The UCLA football team changed its verbiage for scoring. Instead of saying “get points,” the Bruins now say they want to “finish in the paint.”
The offense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain, but the defense kept UCLA competitive in Friday night’s loss to Washington as the team continues to struggle to emphatically close out games – which they will need to do in the final games of the season in order to be bowl eligible.
“We just continue to shoot ourselves in the foot,” Foster said. “And when you are playing teams like this at home, and they have that (home) win streak that they have, you can’t give them opportunities to continue to come out and make some plays on us. We played an OK first half, but that second half just wasn’t our ball.”
The emphasis on finishing games strong first took center stage at the end of a disappointing Minnesota game in which Golden Gophers freshman Koi Perich intercepted Garbers in the end zone, preventing what could have been a winning touchdown.
“That was a rough one. That one stung,” receiver Logan Loya said in the week leading up to Washington. “It’s just finishing. That’s all it is. Once that happened, we knew we could not let that happen again. Have to finish, have to finish, have to finish.”
Friday’s game showed that the idea of finishing wasn’t ready to exit the stage.
UCLA forced Washington quarterback Will Rogers to throw two interceptions in the third quarter, but the Bruins’ offense was able to produce only a field goal.
Kain Medrano broke up a pass to set up the first interception by Devin Kirkwood, then Medrano picked off Rogers for the second turnover and returned the ball 11 yards. It was Kirkwood’s first interception of the season and Medrano’s second.
“Disappointing,” Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers said. “We’ve got to be better and that starts with me getting these guys going, getting them in and out of the huddle. Just focusing on how every play is the most important. It just comes down to me making those throws and moving those chains.”
The defense as a whole held the Huskies’ passing offense – which is second-best in the Big Ten Conference – to a season-low 182 yards and is the No. 10 rushing defense in the NCAA, holding opponents to 100.6 rushing yards per game.
Some of the offense’s Friday struggles can be traced back to inconsistency on the offensive line. The Bruins brought in their fourth left tackle of the season when Yutaka Mahe replaced an injured Jaylan Jeffers, who was making his first career start, early in the second quarter. Reuben Unije and Niki Prongos also played at the position earlier this season.
Garbers managed to complete 27 of 44 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns despite being sacked six times.
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“Ethan was trying to make plays for the offense,” Foster said. “We ended up losing another tackle so that was unfortunate. But we aren’t going to make any excuses. We are going to keep coming out there and keep playing ball. Our guys all prepare for this opportunity to get in there and play.”
The two remaining games on UCLA’s schedule are at the Rose Bowl against USC on Nov. 23 and Fresno State on Nov. 30. Rivalry week could be coming at a good time for the Bruins.
“This next game, there’s not much you need to tell them,” Foster said. “They understand the game they have coming up. They should be a little upset and eager to get out on the field. If you want to extend your season and play in bowl games, you’ve got to take it one week at a time.”