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UCLA Football: Bruins Break Their Losing Streak, It Was Not Easy

By Mike Regalado

Nov 12, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Jordan Lasley (2) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first half of a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins wide receiver Jordan Lasley (2) returns a blocked punt for a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first half of a NCAA football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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The UCLA Football breaks their 4-game losing streak and remains in the hunt to be bowl eligible, but they needed the defense to save them once again.

I hate to break this up into positives and negatives, but that is where we are with the UCLA Football team.

It might have been a win, but there were still a lot of things limiting this UCLA Football team.

Positives

Senior QB Mike Fafaul finally got a victory as a starting Bruin quarterback. He ended the game with 281 yards on 25-of-47 passing.

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This is not a typo, UCLA ran for 163 yards. Call it progress. The Bruins used five players run the ball with all running for over 15 yards.

Bolu Olorunfunmi, Soso Jamabo and Brandon Stephens ran for over 8.0 yards per carry. Jalen Starks averaged only 2.4 yards, but made up for it with 2 rushing touchdowns. The Bruins had three total rushing touchdowns in this game.

The defense held their own once again. They were not always put in the best position at times, but turned the game around with a goal line stop, two fumble recoveries and one interception taken to the house for a TD. They even stopped Oregon State on 3rd down, as the Beavers could only convert 3-of-15 3rd downs.

Special teams were much improved as they had an blocked punt that went for a touchdown, punter Austin Kent averaged 25.8 yards per kick and JJ Molson hit a 49-yard field goal. Not bad.

Negatives

Bad. Receivers still cannot catch the ball. UCLA had five dropped passes in the game, several of them which could have gone for several more yards, if not a touchdown.

Fafaul was constantly pressured as OSU, which has a weak pass rush, was able to get past the offensive line and at Fafaul. They had one sack on UCLA and held Fafaul to a total of four yards rushing.

Though OSU had their own problem with penalties. UCLA racked up nine of their own, for 82 yards..

And what was with the play calling? Why was Fafaul throwing down field so much? Offensive Coordinator Kennedy Polamalu is having Fafaul pass when he should throw and throw when he should pass. Why would anyone throw on 1st and goal on the 3?

Next: The 30 Greatest UCLA football Players of All-Time

The Bruins still have a lot of problems, but they were able to put together a string of positives to come out on top in this game. It was not pretty, but then again, when has it been with this team this season?