UCLA 45, Colorado 6 (final)
This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.
One more victory and the UCLA Bruins will play in the first Pacific 12 Conference championship football game as the South Division champion.
Go figure?
But it’s true.
After a 45-6 victory over Colorado on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, the Bruins improved to 6-5 overall and 5-3 in Pac-12 play.
The Bruins finish their regular season next Saturday against USC at the Coliseum.
Quarterback Kevin Prince was on top of his game all night.
Prince completed 15 of 19 passes for 225 yards with a career-high four touchdown passes. He also rushed 10 times for 84 yards.
Johnathan Franklin rushed 15 times for 162 yards and a touchdown.
Rosario Nelson caught six passes for 102 yards with a touchdown and tight end Joseph Fauria had five receptions, two for touchdowns.
The Bruins had 553 total yards.
They held Colorado to 229 yards.
Colorado (2-10, 1-7) now has lost 24 consecutive games outside of the state since 2007.
RELATED:
Here’s a game recap:
UCLA 45, Colorado 6 (3:52 fourth quarter)
UCLA’s defense set the stage again for the offense.
Andrew Abbott picked off a Tyler Hansen pass and returned the ball 28 yards. Five plays later, Malcolm Jones ran in from one yard for the Bruins.
It was the most points the Bruins have scored in a game this season.
UCLA 31, Colorado 6 (13:42 fourth quarter)
UCLA struck again early in the fourth quarter.
Quarterback Kevin Prince threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joseph Fauria, his second of the game.
UCLA 24, Colorado 6 (10:58 third quarter)
The Bruins took the second-half kickoff and marched right down the field, getting all the way to Colorado’s three-yard line for a first down.
But the Bruins couldn’t punch the ball into the end zone, settling for a 22-yard field goal from Tyler Gonzalez.
UCLA 21, Colorado 6 (halftime)
There was a time when UCLA scored so fast that it looked like the game would be a rout before the first quarter was over.
The Bruins scored 21 unanswered points in the first quarter.
UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince completed his first eight passes. That’s how good things were going for the Bruins.
But the game slowed down.
Colorado scored early in the second quarter, but missed the extra-point attempt, allowing the Bruins to head to their locker room with a 15-point lead.
UCLA 21, Colorado 6 (14:54 second quarter)
Colorado finally scored early in the second quarter, but it took some help.
Tyler Hansen threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Toney Clemons, but he was ruled out of bounds.
After a video replay, the call was overturned by the officials, awarding Colorado the touchdown.
But Will Oliver missed the extra-point attempt.
UCLA 21, Colorado 0 (4:03 first quarter)
This time, the Bruins took their time before they scored.
UCLA went 80 yards in 12 plays, scoring when Kevin Prince threw a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joseph Fauria, who leaped into the end zone for the score.
The Bruins’ scoring drive lasted 6 minutes and 4 seconds.
UCLA 14, Colorado 0 (11:26 first quarter)
The UCLA defense got involved in the game early, setting up the Bruins for an easy touchdown.
Linebacker Sean Westgate intercepted a deflected pass from Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen.
One play later, Johnathan Franklin ran 14 yards for a touchdown.
UCLA 7, Colorado 0 (12:22 first quarter)
The Bruins didn’t waste any time scoring in the first quarter.
It took only two plays, ending with a 54-yard touchdown pass from Kevin Prince to Shaquelle Evans for the score.
Evans, however, was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for a celebration in the end zone.
--Broderick Turner
Pregame
Tony Dye started at safety for UCLA on Saturday against Colorado, his first time playing in seven games.
Dye hadn’t played since Sept. 7, against Texas, because of a neck injury.
Since Dye is playing, it means he cannot apply for a medical redshirt.
---
UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel has never lost to Colorado, his former team.
Neuheisel was the Buffaloes’ coach from 1995-98. He left to take the Washington job and was 2-0 against the Buffaloes.
On playing his former team, Neuheisel said, “What you remember when you look back are the people, guys like Michael Westbrook, Kordell Stewart.”
Colorado fans probably don’t remember Neuheisel as fondly.
The NCAA found that Colorado had 55 violations, 51 of which occurred under Neuheisel.
--Chris Foster
