Mistakes doom Arizona Football in close loss to UCLA Bruins

In one of their best opportunities to pick up another win on the year, mistakes doomed the Arizona Football team in their loss to UCLA.

Coming into this one, we knew it would be a difficult one to win. The Arizona Football team was going to be without Khalil Tate along with a handful of other players.

On homecoming night in Pasadena, it seemed like everything was setting up to be a potentially tough game to overcome. And from early on it looked like it too, as Arizona went three-and-out in their first series, and UCLA would march down field to take a 7-0 lead.

Arizona Wildcats

A few exchange of possessions, and the Bruins would march down the field again. This time connecting on a 40-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0. From that point, it seemed like Arizona would be destined for a long night.

Instead, Rhett Rodriguez, starting in his first collegiate game would slowly begin to find a rhythm in this one. J.J. Taylor and Arizona would have a great chance to retaliate, but following a 56-yard run by Taylor that seemed destined for the end zone, was quickly derailed when Bruins defensive back Darnay Holmes caused a fumble to give UCLA the ball right back.

That play would prove to be pivotal later in this one.

A few plays later, finally the Wildcats would find the end zone! Rodriguez would lead the Wildcats on a five-play 71-yard drive that was capped off by a Wildcat touchdown, when Rodriguez completed a 13-yard pass to Shawn Poindexter.

However, the Bruins would respond quickly, going 75 yards on 13 plays to make it 17-7 with just under two minutes to play just before the half. Unfortunately, neither team would be able to capitalize in the final two minutes, with UCLA heading into halftime with a 17-7 lead.

Needing some big adjustments in the second half, Arizona would come out strong, holding the Bruins to a quick three-and-out to open the half. The Wildcats would get the ball needing something positive.

That’s when Rhett would help lead Arizona on a nine-play, 71-yard drive that ended in a 29-yard field goal from Josh Pollack to make it 17-10.

Luckily a fumble on UCLA’s next offensive series would give Arizona the ball right back, where they were then able to capitalize! Poindexter would get his second touchdown of the game, this time from 11 yards out to make it 17-17.

Another solid stand by Arizona’s defense would give the Wildcats the ball again! Tied at 17, the Wildcats would drive the field again, Pollack would connect on his second field goal of the night, this time from 39 yards out to give Arizona its first lead.

Unfortunately, UCLA would answer right back, scoring on a Wilton Speight pass to make it 24-20 UCLA.

Trailing by four to start the fourth quarter, Arizona would cap off their eight-play, 72-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run by Taylor to give the Wildcats the lead again at 27-24.

The Bruins would not go away. Again, UCLA would wear down Arizona’s defense, driving at will to score a touchdown that put them up for good at 31-27.

Arizona’s fight would stay persistent. The Wildcats would put together a nice drive, but would be halted when a crucial pass to Poindexter would go unconverted, leading to another field goal attempt by Pollack.

The senior kicker would connect for the third time tonight, this time from 29 yards out to bring the game within one. However, that’s the last chance the Wildcats would get.

Needing a crucial stop in the last six minutes of the game, the Wildcats could do it. The Bruins would have three third downs, converting on all of them.

Arizona would use its final timeouts, as the Bruins held on to win this one by a 31-30 final.

Rodriguez finished the game with 231 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions with 15 completions on 34 attempts. Taylor and Gary Brightwell would combine for 275 yards rushing with a touchdown.

However, once again it was the Wildcats’ defense allowing UCLA to convert on eight of 18 third-down attempts (44 percent) and the crucial mistakes that prevented them from coming away victorious.

With the loss the Wildcats drop to 3-5 (2-3), and the road from here on out gets substantially harder. The loss hurts, as the Wildcats should have absolutely won this game, but couldn’t overcome key mistakes.

At Zona Zealots, hopefully the Wildcats can find a way to end the season on a positive note, but return to Tucson to take on a tough Oregon team fresh off a loss to Washington State. Bear Down, Arizona!