After UCLA’s promising start, the ground attack runs down in loss to USC
The game was over, and so were five years of competing at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA quarterback Mike Fafaul and left tackle Conor McDermott, longtime teammates and roommates, returned to midfield and lay down on the turf to contemplate the end of a journey. A wholly unsatisfying end.
“It’s very emotional and it’s just disappointing to go out like that,” Fafaul said late Saturday after the Bruins’ 36-14 loss to USC.
UCLA was picked by the media to win the Pac-12 South Division but can finish no higher than fourth place. The Bruins (4-7 overall, 2-6 Pac-12 Conference) are headed for their first losing season since 2011 and probably will fail to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2010 regardless of whether they beat California (4-7, 2-6) on Saturday in Berkeley.
UCLA’s demise against USC occurred despite a promising start. The Bruins outplayed the Trojans in the first quarter and retook the lead early in the second quarter on Jordan Lasley’s second touchdown catch of the game.
UCLA was running the ball with some success, had converted a trick play for the first time this season and … splat.
The Bruins ran for only eight yards in the final three quarters and failed to convert their last eight third-down attempts after being successful on two of their first three.
“When your offense gets a chance and can’t get a drive going, it’s frustrating,” said UCLA Coach Jim Mora, whose team ran for a total of 55 yards. “And that was the story of the last three quarters of the game.”
Conversely, Mora said, USC tailback Ronald Jones II’s burst through the defense for a 60-yard touchdown on third and one early in the second quarter “got us a little bit.”
The Bruins’ confidence in their run game had apparently evaporated midway through the third quarter. They were facing third and two near midfield, trailing by 16 points and badly needing some momentum. Freshman tailback Jalen Starks ran for one yard on third down before UCLA appeared to announce its surrender by punting on fourth and one.
“There was talk about it,” Bruins offensive coordinator Kennedy Polamalu said when asked about the possibility of going for the first down, “but we want to convert those third downs. If you convert the third downs you stay on schedule.”
USC took the punt and battered the Bruins into submission with an 18-play, 73-yard drive that took more than nine minutes and resulted in a field goal. That was the ballgame.
Mora mentioned a different sort of missed opportunity after his team lost for the fifth time in six games, referencing the failure to convert upon the leadership of seniors such as Fafaul and McDermott.
“Regardless of how this year has gone, those young men have done some tremendous things here,” Mora said. “They’ve been responsible for creating a culture that I think will endure. It’s obviously been camouflaged by our record this year. This is the first game that we have really not been in, and that was disappointing.
“But they’ve changed things around here, they’ve raised expectations and it’s up to everyone else to live up to those expectations. And we have not done that.”
As he sprawled on the field after his final home game, Fafaul could not savor the ending he wanted.
“I love playing football, it’s just frustrating right now,” Fafaul said. “I found a little solace, a little quiet out there, you know?”
Quick hits
It will be the battle of the nation’s second-worst rushing offense against the second-worst rushing defense in the country on Saturday when UCLA plays California. UCLA needs to run for 73 yards to avoid becoming the third team in school history since 1945 to fail to reach 1,000 yards on the ground in a season. The Bruins’ prospects seem fairly good because the Golden Bears have given up 290 yards rushing per game this season. … UCLA linebacker Jayon Brown has 105 tackles, becoming the first Bruin to reach 100 since Eric Kendricks in 2014. … UCLA’s game against Cal will kick off at 4 p.m. and air on ESPN2.
Follow Ben Bolch on Twitter @latbbolch
Times staff writer Jesse Dougherty contributed this report.
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