UCLA Football: Bruins can’t complete the comeback, fall to Stanford in finale

UCLA football’s game against Stanford, like their season, had a lot of highs and lows, but eventually ends in a 49-42 loss as the Bruins finish the season 3-9.

The UCLA football team isn’t exactly going quietly into the night. After starting out 0-5, the Bruins went 3-4 in their last seven games, which included one final loss as Stanford took down the Bruins for the 11th consecutive time.

The first year of the Chip Kelly era at UCLA is over, but not without a fight, fight, fight. Like their season, UCLA’s game against Stanford was not without a few hair-pulling moments. It also had several highlights to build off of.

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This week in Chip Kelly stated that he did not care what had happened between these two teams before this season and the Bruins played like it. Despite several mistakes, they did not back down from the Cardinal. Unfortunately, turnovers and missed opportunities kept the Bruins from getting the “W’ in this one.

The Bruins had several chances to take this from Stanford, especially in the last ten minutes of the game.

With 9:27 left in the game, capping off a 13-[lay, 90-yard drive, UCLA took a 42-21 lead when Wilton Speight ran the ball in for a 1-yard touchdown run. The Bruins failed to convert the two-points, but still, the unexpected lead would suffice.

Stanford retaliated on the next drive when KJ Costello connected with Osiris St. Brown for a 52-yard passing touchdown. UCLA’s pass defense was not good in any sense today. They allowed Costello to pass for 5 touchdowns and 344 yards. Secondary play is definitely one thing that UCLA has to work on in the offseason.

After that drive, with 8:19 left, UCLA could not get close to the end zone and relied on JJ Molson to bring them closer with a 53-yard attempt. It was missed.

All Stanford had to do was eat up clock and keep the ball out of UCLA’s hands, but the Bruins forced a three and out and a Cardinal punt.

On the next drive, Speight connected with Caleb Wilson for a 65-yard catch that put UCLA on the Stanford 15. The Bruins did nothing with it as four plays later, Speight was sacked on 4th down.

Game Stats

• UCLA: Total Yds – 528 | Rushing Yds – 62 | Passing Yds – 466 | TOs – 3
• Wilton Speight – 29/47, 466 pass yds | Caleb Wilson – 9 rec, 184 yds
• Stanford: Total Yds – 470 | Rushing Yds – 126 | Passing Yds – 344 | TOs – 1
• KJ Costello – 22/37, 344 pass yds | JJ Arcega-Whiteside – 7 rec, 106 yds, 3 TDs

Again, all Stanford had to do was eat clock. Again, UCLA forced a three-and-out and a punt. UCLA had one last chance. On the very next first play of that drive, Speight hit Wilson in stride and the tight end rattled off 19 yards. He then fumbled and Stanford recovered.

But wait! Targeting called on Stanford. UCLA had the ball, a 1st down and field position at the 45. On the next play, UCLA was called for a false start, pushing them back ten yards. Of the next three passes attempted, only one connected. UCLA would turn the ball over on downs and give Stanford the win.

It was frustrating, but what hasn’t been this season? On the other hand, there are several positives to take from this game and this season. There is growth with the youth. There is learning despite all the mistakes. Above all, there is fight. UCLA never quit in this game or season and that is a 180-degree turn for a program that was stagnant under previous regimes.

UCLA might be 3-9, but they are better than their record indicates. This season can be forgotten, but make sure you are wide-eyed as the Bruins transition into the second phase of the Chip Kelly process.