UCLA
6-7 , 4-5
Kansas State
8-5 , 5-4
UCLA Falls to Kansas State in Cactus Bowl, 35-17
December 26, 2017 | Football
Phoenix, Ariz. - UCLA concluded its 2017 season with a 35-17 loss to Kansas State at the Cactus Bowl. The Bruins (6-7) led 17-7 at the half, but Kansas State (8-5) scored four unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the win.
The Bruins held a 17-7 advantage at halftime after two long touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Devon Modster. With K-State leading 10-3, Modster hit Jordan Lasley on a screen pass, and after a well-timed block by Christian Pabico, Lasley took it down 52 yards for the touchdown. The touchdown was Lasley's ninth touchdown reception of the season and 14th of his career. After a quick three-and-out, the Bruins scored quickly on their next possession, with Modster bombing a 70-yard touchdown pass to Theo Howard on the second play of the drive.
Kansas State flipped the script on the Bruins late in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns in two minutes to take a 21-17 lead with 4:22 to play in the third. On fourth and goal on the one, Alex Delton pushed his way into the end zone to trim UCLA's lead to 17-14 with 6:39 left on the clock. The Wildcats quickly got the ball back thanks to a Bruin fumble on their own 24, and four players later, Delton threw to Dominique Heath for an eight-yard touchdown and the lead. The Wildcats extended the lead to 28-17 on another fourth down touchdown. On fourth and one on the 41, Alex Barnes ran it for a 41-yard rushing touchdown with 14:01 to play in the game. Kansas State scored its final touchdown on a 15-play 98-yard drive with 4:34 remaining.
Modster finished the game 21-34 for a career-high 295 yards and two touchdowns. Lasley led UCLA with 128 yards receiving and tied a UCLA single-season record held by Freddie Mitchell in 2000 with his seventh 100-yard receiving game of the year. Howard recorded a career-high 119 yards receiving. Kenny Young, in his 42nd career start, and Jaleel Wadood .
Team Stats
KS 0, UCLA 3
UCLA - Molson, JJ 44 yd field goal 12 plays, 44 yards, TOP 6:11
KS 7, UCLA 3
KS - Delton, Alex 68 yd run (McCrane, M. kick), 2 plays, 76 yards, TOP 0:52
KS 7, UCLA 10
UCLA - Lasley, Jordan 52 yd pass from Modster, Devon (Molson, JJ kick) 8 plays, 86 yards, TOP 0:00
KS 7, UCLA 17
UCLA - Howard, Theo 70 yd pass from Modster, Devon (Molson, JJ kick) 2 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:46
KS 14, UCLA 17
KS - Delton, Alex 1 yd run (McCrane, M. kick), 8 plays, 74 yards, TOP 4:40
KS 21, UCLA 17
KS - Heath, D. 8 yd pass from Delton, Alex (McCrane, M. kick) 4 plays, 24 yards, TOP 2:01
KS 28, UCLA 17
KS - Barnes, Alex 41 yd run (McCrane, M. kick), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 2:08
KS 35, UCLA 17
KS - Delton, Alex 3 yd run (McCrane, M. kick), 15 plays, 98 yards, TOP 8:06
