Bruins eventually flex muscles, pull past WSU

PASADENA, Calif. -- Washington State looked nothing like a 17-point underdog in the opening quarter Saturday night. It wouldn't last.

UCLA scored early in the second quarter and pulled away, defeating the Cougars 28-3 in Pac-10 play at the Rose Bowl.

The Cougars fell to 1-5 and 0-3 in conference. The Bruins earned their first conference victory and improved to 2-3 overall. They visit Oregon next week while the Cougars, who had 177 total yards, travel to Oregon State.

"We just couldn't get into the red zone," Cougars coach Paul Wulff said.

"We would make something happen and then we'd shoot ourselves in the foot on offense."

The Cougars came out playing nothing like the team that gave up 222 points in their first five games. Washington State had been outscored 62-24 in first quarters this season before playing a scoreless one against the Bruins.

However, UCLA got on the board first when Bruins quarterback Kevin Craft connected with Ryan Moya for 15 yards to cap a nine-play, 64-yard drive and the Bruins led 7-0 with 13:48 to play in the second quarter.

The Bruins put the game out of reach on a 19-play, 83-yard drive early in the fourth quarter. The big play was Terrence Austin's 27-yard grab that set up first and goal. Kahlil Bell eventually dove in from 1 yard out for his second touchdown of the game and the Bruins pushed their margin to 28-3 with 11:28 to play.

Washington State scored its only points on the opening drive of the second half. Nico Grasu hit a 47-yard field goal to end a nine-play, 43-yard drive and the Cougars trailed 14-3.

The Cougars' defense stopped the Bruins on the next possession and Washington State had a chance to get back into the game. However, Marshall Lobbestael was intercepted by Alterraun Verner on third down and the Bruins took over at the Cougars 27.

"I was well-prepared," Lobbestael said. "I just wasn't relaxed enough. I tried to do too much."

Four plays later, Craft hit a wide-open Moya on a 12-yard score and UCLA led, 21-3, with 6:40 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougars were called for eight penalties for 69 yards, including a sideline interference call and a defensive holding penalty that gave UCLA a first down after the Cougars had stopped them.

Late in the fourth quarter the Cougars had more penalty yards (59) than rushing yards (42). They finished with 26 total yards rushing on 25 attempts.

"We had a tough time executing," receiver Brandon Gibson said of the offense. "The defense played good. They were on the field all night. We put them in some bad situations."

UCLA scored its second touchdown on Bell's 2-yard touchdown run to move ahead 14-0 with 6:56 before intermission. Craft found Austin over the middle for 14 yards on third down to set up the touchdown.

Linebacker Greg Trent had Craft by the ankles on the play, but couldn't bring him down.

Washington State's maligned rush defense stood up well early, holding the Bruins to 44 first-half yards on the ground.

But with Craft getting time, he hurt the Cougars secondary with 132 yards on 13-of-20 passing.

The Cougars' best look came on their third drive of the first half but they couldn't convert on fourth-and-two at the Bruins 36.

Lobbestael missed Gibson on a short route over the middle. The Bruins took over and scored the game's first touchdown.

"That was pretty big," Wulff said of the momentum swing.

"I probably shouldn't have done that, but I didn't think they would go 75 yards. It was one of those midrange deals."