UCLA
Washington State
UCLA Edged by Washington State, 31-27
November 15, 2015 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. - The UCLA football team dropped a 31-27 decision to Washington State before 76,255 at the Rose Bowl in the Bruins' final regular-season home game on Saturday night.
In a game that featured seven lead changes, Washington State (7-3, 5-2) engineered a seven-play, 75-yard drive in the final 1:09 to take a 31-27 advantage with three seconds remaining. Luke Falk connected on a 21-yard strike to Gabe Marks for the game-winning score.
Washington State's drive came just after UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen had a 37-yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 80-yard drive with 1:09 to play. The ensuing two-point conversion, a pass completion from Rosen to Thomas Duarte, put the Bruins (7-3, 4-3) ahead of the Cougars, 27-24.
Rosen finished the game having completed 33 of 57 pass attempts for 340 yards, picking up 70 rushing yards on five carries. In all, UCLA registered 554 yards of total offense. Wide receiver Jordan Payton tied a school record with 14 receptions (tying J.J. Stokes' career-best mark), totaling 152 yards.
Falk led Washington State through the air, connecting on 38 of 53 passes for 331 yards and two touchdowns.
The Cougars led 24-19 and were driving downfield, in UCLA territory, when Jaleel Wadood picked off a pass from Falk at the 3:13 mark, giving possession back to the Bruins and setting up UCLA's ensuing 80-yard touchdown drive. Prior to the Bruins claimed a 27-24 lead late in the fourth quarter, Washington State had led since early in the third quarter.
Senior kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn totaled 13 points, setting the all-time scoring record for both UCLA and the Pac-12 Conference (402 points). Fairbairn, who kicked four field goals, established the new record after a first-quarter field goal put UCLA ahead, 3-0.
Trailing at halftime by a 16-14 margin, Washington State regained the lead (21-16) on a four-yard touchdown pass from Falk to Marks.
Three of Fairbairn's field goals came before halftime, including a 38-yarder with 11 seconds to play before the break that put UCLA on top, 16-14.
WSU took a 14-13 lead with 1:30 to play in the second quarter on a seven-yard pass from Peyton Bender to Dom Williams on a third-down situation.
Fairbairn's first field goal gave UCLA an early 3-0 advantage. WSU promptly answered with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Gerard Wicks at the 4:31 mark in the opening quarter to put the Cougars ahead, 7-3.
UCLA followed with Fairbairn's second field goal and a 14-yard touchdown rush by Nate Starks to secure a 13-7 lead with 4:14 to play in the second quarter.
The Bruins will return to action at Utah on Saturday, Nov. 21. Game time in Salt Lake City is slated for 12:30 p.m. PT (1:30 p.m. MT).
