UCLA Rallies for Last-Minute Win Over South Alabama, 32-31
September 17, 2022 | Football
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The Bruins improved to 3-0 on the season with the result, while South Alabama dropped to 2-1.
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Redshirt senior wide receiver Jake Bobo paced the Bruins offensively, making five catches for 89 yards and a touchdown, his first as a Bruin. Logan Loya and Kam Brown both had touchdown receptions as well, as UCLA redshirt senior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson finished with 263 yards passing and three touchdowns.Â
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UCLA found itself down 31-23 at the end of the third quarter after a pair of South Alabama touchdowns in under a minute but closed the gap at the top of the fourth quarter with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Logan Loya on fourth down. Thompson-Robinson's two-point conversion rushing attempt fell just short, however, keeping South Alabama ahead, 31-29, with 12:25 remaining in the game. Â
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The Bruins appeared to get an important third-down stop on third and seven with five minutes to play, but the drive was extended due to a late hit, giving the Jaguars an automatic first down. South Alabama was denied a score four plays later, however, after attempting a fake on a field goal at the UCLA 22. Tanner McGee was sacked by Carl Jones for a loss of 11 on the play, giving the Bruins the ball on the 33 with 2:52 to play. A pair of 20+-yard passes by Thompson-Robinson helped the Bruins get into field goal range for Barr-Mira's heroics.
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UCLA struck first in the contest, a 38-yard field goal by Nicholas Barr-Mira following a JonJon Vaughns interception on the game's opening drive. South Alabama countered on its next drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Marco Lee. The Bruins had to settle for another field goal on their next possession, with Barr-Mira booming a career-long 49-yard kick through the uprights to close to within one, 7-6.
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After a lost fumble by Zach Charbonnet at the South Alabama one-yard line, Jaguar running back La'Damian Webb capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive with a nine-yard touchdown rush to give South Alabama its largest lead of the half, 17-6. Webb had rushed for 80 yards on just seven carries in the first half and finished the game with 124 yards on 16 carries. Â
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The Bruins found their offensive rhythm on UCLA's final drive of the first half. Thompson-Robinson connected with Jake Bobo on a 34-yard pass for UCLA's longest play of the quarter. The next play, running back Keegan Jones made a tackler miss at the line of scrimmage and broke free for a 25-yard rush to put the Bruins in the red zone. The 6-foot, 5-inch Bobo climbed the ladder for his first touchdown in a UCLA uniform a play later to cut South Alabama's lead to 17-14.
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The Jaguars had 11 plays of 10-plus yards in the first half as they outgained the Bruins 250-195.
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After trailing 17-13 at the half, UCLA scorched Spieker Field for 75 yards on just four plays in 1:38 seconds to claim a 20-17 lead on the first drive of the second half. A 21-yard completion to wide receiver Jake Bobo and a 20-yard rush by Charbonnet, his second 20-plus-yard gain of the afternoon, set up an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kam Brown.
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On the next possession, Bruin linebacker Choé Bryant-Strother forced a fumble, which was recovered by Devin Kirkwood on the UCLA 36. The Bruins went on to score three on a Barr-Mira 28-yard field goal to move ahead, 23-17. However, South Alabama marched right back to reclaim the lead, 24-23, on an eight-play, 67-yard drive capped by a Lee eight-yard touchdown run.
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The Jaguars quickly regained possession and momentum when Dorian Thompson-Robinson fumbled on the first play of the drive, with South Alabama recovering the ball on the UCLA 6. Two plays later, Carter Bradley connected with Caullin Lacy for a four-yard touchdown pass and a 31-23 Jaguar lead.
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UCLA returns to action next Saturday, traveling to face Colorado in the conference-opener for both schools. The Pac-12 Networks will televise the contest, which is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. PT kickoff.
Team Stats

USA 0, UCL 3
UCL - Barr-Mira,Nicholas 38 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:56

USA 7, UCL 3
USA - Lee,Marco 1 yd run (Guajardo,Diego kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:24

USA 7, UCL 6
UCL - Barr-Mira,Nicholas 49 yd field goal 10 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:24

USA 10, UCL 6
USA - Guajardo,Diego 38 yd field goal 9 plays, 55 yards, TOP 03:04

USA 17, UCL 6
USA - Webb,La'Damian 9 yd run (Guajardo,Diego kick), 12 plays, 80 yards, TOP 06:31

USA 17, UCL 13
UCL - Bobo,Jake 9 yd pass from Thompson-Robinson,Dorian (Barr-Mira,Nicholas kick) 6 plays, 69 yards, TOP 02:29

USA 17, UCL 20
UCL - Brown,Kam 11 yd pass from Thompson-Robinson,Dorian (Barr-Mira,Nicholas kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:38

USA 17, UCL 23
UCL - Barr-Mira,Nicholas 28 yd field goal 13 plays, 56 yards, TOP 05:11

USA 24, UCL 23
USA - Lee,Marco 1 yd run (Guajardo,Diego kick), 8 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:58

USA 31, UCL 23
USA - Lacy,Caullin 4 yd pass from Bradley,Carter (Guajardo,Diego kick) 2 plays, 6 yards, TOP 00:27

USA 31, UCL 29
UCL - Loya,Logan 8 yd pass from Thompson-Robinson,Dorian () 10 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:26

USA 31, UCL 32
UCL - Barr-Mira,Nicholas 24 yd field goal 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:52










