UCLA vs. Oregon State: Bruins 17, Beavers 14 (final)
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What were the chances Kai Forbath would miss three field-goal tries in one game?
Apparently, zero.
Shaking off earlier misses from 49 and 46 yards, the UCLA kicker split the uprights as time expired from 51 yards -- with plenty of distance to spare -- to give the Bruins a 17-14 victory over Oregon State at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.
The winning kick came after UCLA drove from its own 17 to the Oregon State 34 in 47 seconds -- aided in the end by what might have been an ever-so-slightly extended final four seconds.
The drive went like this:
Johnathan Franklin ran for 12 yards; Randall Carroll caught a five-yard pass from Richard Brehaut; incomplete pass; Taylor Embree caught an 11-yard pass from Brehaut; incomplete pass; Carroll catch from Brehaut for nine yards; Carroll reception from Brehaut for 12 yards; enter Forbath.
The key was that final pass to Carroll --a play that started with :04 on the clock. In that span, Brehaut managed to catch the snap and throw a short pass to Carroll, who made a quick move and took a few steps before getting out of bounds.
UCLA snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 4-5 overall, 2-4 in Pacific 10 Conference play. Oregon State fell to 4-4, 3-2.
Brehaut completed 13 of 19 passes for 127 yards with one interception. He also rushed for 60 yards in 18 carries.
Franklin led the Bruins’ ground game with 80 yards in 23 carries.
Meanwhile, the UCLA defense held Jacquizz Rodgers in check for the first time. Rodgers, who hurt the Bruins in previous matchups and was averaging 106 yards a game this season, was held to 64 yards in 14 carries.
Oregon State quarterback Ryan Katz, a Santa Monica High product, completed 18 of 26 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown.
Oregon State 14, UCLA 14 (start of fourth quarter)
One drive by each team took most of the third quarter.
UCLA has tied the score by patiently driving 70 yards in 19 plays -- 17 runs and two passes. It took 9 minutes and 35 seconds. Johnathan Franklin carried on nine of the runs on the drive, and finished it off by taking the ball in from one yard.
Franklin has 44 yards in 15 carries. The Bruins leading rusher is quarterback Richard Brehaut, who has carried 13 times for 64 yards.
Oregon State 14, UCLA 7 (11:20, third quarter)
Did Oregon State find a something to exploit in UCLA’s defense at halftime?
The Beavers drove right down the field on their first possession of the second half, marching 80 yards in eight plays and scoring on a 22-yard run by Markus Wheaton.
Quarterback Ryan Katz completed all four of his passes on the drive, for 35 yards.
Wheaton’s scoring run came on his second carry of the game.
--Mike Hiserman
UCLA 7, Oregon State 7 (halftime)
It was a game that seemed destined to give the Rose Bowl scoreboard a workout. Instead, UCLA and Oregon State labored through 30 minutes of play Saturday afternoon and were tied, 7-7, at halftime.
The two teams entered the game ranked 94th nationally in total defense, each allowing 423 yards a game. But neither offense was able to dominate.
The Bruins managed to get to the Oregon State 33-yard line in the second quarter, but on third and seven chose to run the ball. Derrick Coleman gained two yards, and Kai Forbath’s 49-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide left.
The Beavers then kept the ball for nearly seven minutes, reaching the UCLA 18. But Jordan Zumwalt sacked quarterback Ryan Katz for a 13-yard loss and Oregon State elected to punt.
Richard Brehaut showed he can run with the ball on the Bruins’ first possession, when the UCLA quarterback took the Bruins on a 72-yard touchdown drive. Brehaut had 45 yards rushing, including a seven-yard touchdown run.
Brehaut had a 21-yard scramble, but his other three attempts were designed and could go a long way toward loosening up the Oregon State defense.
Brehaut had 47 yards rushing in the half. Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, who entered the game 14th in the nation in rushing, had only 43 yards.
But Katz completed 12 of 16 passes for 115 yards. He completed three passes on a 76-yard scoring drive. The last a 28-yard touchdown throw to Joe Halahuni, who left UCLA cornerback Andrew Abbott 10 yards behind him. Katz was three for three for 59 yards on the drive.
UCLA 7, Oregon State 7 (end of first quarter)
UCLA is keeping a close eye on Beavers running back Jacquizz Rodgers, holing him to 14 yards rushing thus far.
The price the Bruins are paying is that quarterback Ryan Katz has time to pick them apart. Katz completed three passes on a 76-yard scoring drive. The last was a 28-yard touchdown throw to Joe Halahuni, who left UCLA cornerback Andrew Abbott 10 yards behind him. Katz was three for three for 59 yards on the drive.
UCLA 7, Oregon State 0 (early in first quarter)
Richard Brehaut can run with the ball. The UCLA quarterback took the Bruins on a 72-yard touchdown drive, rushing for 45 yards and scoring on a seven-yard run.
Brehaut had a 21-yard scramble, but his other three attempts were designed and could go a long way toward loosening up the Oregon State defense.
--Chris Foster
