University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
6-6 , 4-5
California
5-7 , 2-7
UCLA Football Defeats California, 30-27
November 24, 2017 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. โ JJ Molson nailed a 37-yard field goal with four seconds left in the fourth quarter to lead UCLA past California, 30-27, in the regular-season finale for both teams at the Rose Bowl on Friday night.
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With the game tied 27-27, the Bruins (6-6, 4-5) drove down the field to the 20-yard line in the game's final 2:22. Molson's game-winning field goal helped the Bruins become bowl eligible. In addition, UCLA secured its fourth win over Cal in their last five meetings.
"We are obviously excited as a program," UCLA interim head coach Jedd Fisch said. "We also feel that we owe this win to Coach Mora. We wanted to make sure that we were able to end his legacy as the head coach at UCLA, as a guy that led five of his six teams to bowl games. So, we are very respectful of that. In turn, we are extremely excited to move forward and to be 1-0 in this capacity."
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UCLA's final possession in the game's last two minutes came after California had overcome a 10-point fourth quarter deficit.
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The Golden Bears (5-7, 2-7 Pac-12) kicked a field goal with 8:35 to go, reducing UCLA's cushion to 27-20. Minutes later, California drove 77 yards on a 12-play drive, capped by a game-tying six-yard touchdown pass from Ross Bowers to Jordan Veasy.
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Jordan Lasley caught a career-high 12 passes for a team-leading 227 yards and had one touchdown reception in the regular-season finale. Lasley, who finished with 204 receiving yards at USC last week, had a 17-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter to put the Bruins ahead, 17-6.
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Lasley became the first-ever Bruin to record back-to-back 200-yard receiving contests. In addition, his 431 receiving yards between the USC and Cal games are the most by any Bruin in back-to-back contests. He became the first UCLA player to ever record three double-digit reception games in one season.
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In all, UCLA quarterbacks Josh Rosen and Devon Modster combined for 393 passing yards as the Bruins closed their home slate with a 6-0 mark at the Rose Bowl in 2017.
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Modster finished with career highs in pass completions (14), attempts (18) and passing yards (191).
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After securing a 7-3 lead against California late in the first quarter, the Bruins never trailed the rest of the way. The visiting Golden Bears tied the contest, 17-17, early in the third quarter before UCLA answered with a touchdown and a field goal.
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Cal running back Patrick Laird finished with 178 rushing yards on 32 carries. Bowers finished the game having completed 25 of 41 pass attempts for 242 yards.
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Cal kicker Matt Anderson converted four of five field goal attempts, connecting on kicks from 32, 34, 37 and 20 yards against the Bruins.
Team Stats
CAL 3, UCLA 0
CAL - Anderson, Matt 32 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 0:53
CAL 3, UCLA 7
UCLA - Howard, Theo 14 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:16
CAL 6, UCLA 7
CAL - Anderson, Matt 34 yd field goal 10 plays, 46 yards, TOP 3:59
CAL 6, UCLA 10
UCLA - Molson, JJ 27 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 3:40
CAL 6, UCLA 17
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 17 yd pass from Rosen, Josh (Molson, JJ kick) 3 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:47
CAL 9, UCLA 17
CAL - Anderson, Matt 37 yd field goal 12 plays, 59 yards, TOP 3:44
CAL 17, UCLA 17
CAL - Bowers, Ross 2 yd run (Laird, Patrick pass), 6 plays, 58 yards, TOP 1:39
CAL 17, UCLA 24
UCLA - Stephens, Brand 1 yd run (Molson, JJ kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:21
CAL 17, UCLA 27
UCLA - Molson, JJ 26 yd field goal 7 plays, 62 yards, TOP 2:13
CAL 20, UCLA 27
CAL - Anderson, Matt 20 yd field goal 14 plays, 87 yards, TOP 3:30
CAL 27, UCLA 27
CAL - Veasy, Jordan 6 yd pass from Bowers, Ross (Anderson, Matt kick) 11 plays, 77 yards, TOP 3:56
CAL 27, UCLA 30
UCLA - Molson, JJ 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 55 yards, TOP 2:18
