UCLA 24, Washington 23 (final)

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UCLA earned its first Pacific 10 Conference win, coming up with a big turnover to defeat Washington, 24-23, this afternoon before a homecoming crowd at the Rose Bowl.

They did it with much-maligned Kevin Craft at quarterback the entire second half. Starter Kevin Prince was knocked out of the game late in the second quarter on a helmet-to-helmet hit by Washington linebacker Donald Butler that drew a personal foul penalty and seemingly fired up the Bruins.

In the end, though, it was sophomore free safety Rahim Moore and freshman cornerback Sheldon Price who combined on the game-saving play for UCLA.

With the Bruins clinging to their one-point advantage, Washington drove from its own 11 to midfield when quarterback Jake Locker tried to connect with Jermaine Kearse on a long pass down the sideline with less than a minute to play. Price was positioned perfectly, however, and managed to tip the ball away -- right into the hands of Moore for his nation-leading eighth interception.

UCLA took over at its own 26 and ran out the clock.

Craft, who because of injuries to Prince and the ineffectiveness of backup Richard Brehaut, keeps finding his way into games, completed 10 of 15 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Prince was off to a hot start before he was knocked out of the game. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 212 yards and a touchdown with one interception.

Brehaut was first into the game in reserve of Prince but, as he did last week, he fumbled the first time he went back to pass.

That brought on Craft, who has been taking few snaps in practice.

‘He’s been maligned,’ Coach Rick Neuheisel said of Craft in a television interview afterward, ‘but he keeps coming back, and that’s what sports is all about.’

-- Mike Hiserman

UCLA 24, Washington 23 (fourth quarter)

Washington scraps together a drive, getting two third-down conversions.

But after quarterback Jake Locker tripped over his own lineman for a sack, kicker Erik Folk hooked a 38-yard field-goal try wide to the left. Bruins keep the lead.

UCLA 24, Washington 23 (end of third quarter)

The Bruins take a 24-23 lead on a drive where the two sides of quarterback Kevin Craft were on display. Craft completed two of three passes for 41 yards, and also scrambled for 13 yards on a play.

But, after getting the Bruins to the Washington five-yard line, Craft fumbled the ball. A play later he overthrew tight end Ryan Moya in the end zone.

UCLA settles for taking the lead on a 27-yard field goal by Kai Forbath.

Washington 23, UCLA 21 (third quarter)

Shades of 2008. UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft just lofted a lazy pass over an open receiver down the middle that was intercepted by Washington’s Jason Wells. Starter Kevin Prince is back on the sideline, but he is wearing a ball cap, not a helmet.

UCLA’s defenses hold. The Bruins have the ball back on their own 35-yard line with three minutes left in the third quarter.

Washington 23, UCLA 21 (third quarter)

Just when things seemed bleak for the Bruins, Kevin Craft and Terrence Austin kept the bottom from ripping out.

Austin returned a kickoff 59 yards. Three plays later, Craft found Austin wide open down the middle. Austin dived for the ball near the goal line but couldn’t hold on as he tumbled to the ground, with the ball flipping in the air. Austin somehow snagged the ball before it hit the ground as he rolled into the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass.

Washington 23, UCLA 14 (third quarter)

Four plays after Johnathan Franklin’s fumble, Washington quarterback Jake Locker zipped a pass to Jermaine Kearse, who out maneuvered freshman cornerback Sheldon Price for the ball and a 34-yard touchdown.

A battle for last place is shaping up in Pullman, Wash., next week, when UCLA plays Washington State.

Washington 16, UCLA 14 (third quarter)

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince, who was knocked from the game on a helmet-to-helmet hit while scrambling, is being evaluated for concussion symptoms and his return is questionable, according to UCLA officials. Kevin Craft opens the second half at quarterback. Craft has not taken any reps in practice the last two weeks.

Bruins tailback Johnathan Franklin fumbles on the Bruins’ first possession, Washington’s Darrion Jones recovers.

Washington 16, UCLA 14 (halftime)

UCLA’s offense was polished and effective. Kevin Prince looked every bit the quarterback that offensive coordinator Norm Chow has championed. The Bruins seemed capable of scoring at will.

All that unraveled when Prince scrambled up field and was leveled by a cheap hit from Washington linebacker Donald Butler.

The Huskies went into halftime leading, 16-14, but the bigger concern for the Bruins was Prince, who left the game and was taken to the locker room after being hammered by Butler with 5 minutes 7 seconds left in the half.

Butler was called for an illegal hit on the play.

Richard Brehaut, Prince’s replacement, fumbled the ball on his first series, with Washington’s De’Shon Matthews recovered at the Huskies’ 23. Kevin Craft came in at quarterback on UCLA’s last series of the half.

The Bruins’ defense, meanwhile, was having trouble stopping the Huskies, though they held them to three Erik Folk field goals. Washington had 241 total yards in the first half.

Running back Chris Polk had 102 yards rushing and quarterback Jake Locker threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse, which came two plays after a 26-yard run by Polk.

UCLA got a one-yard touchdown pass from Prince to tight end Corey Harkey and a one-yard touchdown run by Chane Moline to cap an 80-yard drive.

Washington 16, UCLA 14 (second quarter)

Quarterback Kevin Prince, while driving UCLA up field, was clobbered on a cheap hit by Washington’s Donald Butler. Prince was scrambling when Butler leveled a helmet-to-helmet hit on him. Prince lay on the ground for two minutes, and is still being attended to on the bench.

Butler was called for an illegal hit. Prince missed four weeks earlier this season after suffering a fractured jaw against Tennessee. UCLA center Kai Maiava walked half-way to the Washington defense, barking and pointing before play resumed.

Prince, who had completed 13 of 17 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown before the injury, has been taken to the locker room.

Richard Brehaut, Prince’s replacement, just had the ball knocked from his hands. Washington’s De’Shon Matthews recovered at the Huskies’ 23. Kevin Craft is warming up and will enter the game.

Washington 16, UCLA 14 (second quarter)

Kevin Prince made his first mistake of the day. His pass is intercepted by Desmond Trufant, setting up Washington at the UCLA 17-yard line_following a personal foul call on Bruins’ center Kai Maiava. The Huskies got a 33-yard field goal from Erik Folk.

Defensive end Korey Bosworth (ankle) has not returned.

UCLA 14, Washington 13 (second quarter)

Are these 1967 throwback jerseys or 1998? The Bruins’ defense looks disturbingly like the one UCLA put on the field against Miami in 1998, in the game that cost them a shot at the national title. Washington running back Chris Polk already has 101 yards rushing. Huskies quarterback Jake Locker is dicing and mincing the UCLA defense. The Bruins held at the two-yard line and Washington settled for a 20-yard field goal by Erik Folk.

UCLA defensive end Korey Bosworth went to the bench with what appears to be a left ankle injury.

UCLA 14, Washington 10 (end of first quarter)

What quarterback situation? UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel doesn’t need to do any more reviewing of the position. Kevin Prince directed an 80-yard touchdown drive. He completed four of six passes for 76 yards. He threw a perfect strike to Taylor Embree for a 19-yard gain to the one-yard line on a third-and-18 play. Chane Moline ran it in on the next play.

Prince is 10 of 13 for 171 yards on the Bruins’ first two drives. He has thrown for 369 yards on UCLA’s last five possessions, including last week against Oregon State game.

Washington 10, UCLA 7 (first quarter)
After UCLA’s Terrence Austin fumbled on the kickoff return, Washington moved to the Bruins’ 12-yard line, where Erik Folk kicked a 30-yard field goal for a 10-7 lead.

To think, six weeks ago Bruins fans loved Folk when he kicked three field goals, including the game-winner, against USC.

UCLA 7, Washington 7 (first quarter)

Jake Locker just matched Kevin Prince. The Huskies quarterback completed two big passes for 43 yards, the second a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Kearse.

Tailback Chris Polk also had a 26-yard run on the drive. Locker threw three touchdown passes against the Bruins in the Rose Bowl two years ago.

Terrence Austin just fumbled the kickoff return. Washington has the ball on the UCLA 30.

UCLA 7, Washington 0 (first quarter)

Kevin Prince seems to have picked up where he left against Oregon State, when he threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Prince completed six of seven passes for 95 yards, including a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Corey Harkey, on the Bruins’ first drive. The play came on fourth and one, with Prince freezing the Washington defense with a fake handoff before rolling out.