Hapless Huskies go 0 for 7 at home

It was a surreal setting on the western shores of Lake Washington. Tyrone Willingham, coaching his final home game, stood on one sideline while former Husky head coach Rick Neuheisel, making his first trip to familiar climes since he was hired by UCLA, stood on the other. The scoreboard was secondary to the storylines of the coaches, but for those interested, the Bruins beat the Huskies 27-7.

Neither team was stellar offensively, but UCLA moved the ball more effectively than the Huskies. At the end of the first half Washington had amassed just 96 yards and a touchdown while the Bruins totaled 167 and 17 points.

Aside from UCLA’s first drive, one that saw the visitors from Westwood march 80 yards on 12 plays ending in a Derric Coleman 11-yard touchdown run, the rest of the scores in the first half came off of turnovers.

Leading 7-0 and facing a third-and-three from their own 25, UCLA QB Kevin Craft dropped back to pass and was intercepted by Washington LB Trenton Tuiasosopo at the 44 yard-line. The senior linebacker returned it to the 11 and Washington took it in two plays later as RB Brandon Johnson took it in from seven yards out, tying the score at seven apiece.

On UCLA’s next possession, Craft was intercepted again, this time on a pass tipped by Tuiasosopo and snatched out of the air by S Tripper Johnson. However, the Huskies returned the favor three plays later when QB Ronnie Fouch was sacked by LB Akeem Ayers who stripped the ball and it was hauled in by DE Korey Bosworth at the Washington 31.

Four plays later, RB Kahlil Bell took it over from one yard out giving UCLA a 14-0 lead.

UCLA was also able to add a 49-yard field goal by Kai Forbath late in the first half allowing the Bruins to head into the locker room with a 17-7 lead.

UCLA’s next scoring effort came on the first play of the fourth quarter as Bell went over from one yard out to give the Bruins an insurmountable 24-7 lead and he added an 18-yarder to cap the scoring.

Fouch finished a miserable 8 of 23 for 50 yards and two interceptions, while Johnson rushed for 75 yards on 20 carries and he had the only Husky score of the night.

Tuiasosopo, Johnson and CB Mesphin Forrester all had interceptions in the losing cause as well.

Bell led the Bruins with 98 yards rushing and two touchdowns while Craft managed to complete 13 of 22 passes for 135 yards and three interceptions.

On the injury front, CB Matt Mosley will X-Rays done on his right knee soon, WR Cody Bruns tweaked his hamstring, TE Michael Gottleib hurt his knee, OT Ben Ossai had a concussion during the game, LB Mason Foster left with an ankle injury but did return, DT Johnie Kirton pulled a quad, but returned and DE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim cramped up during the game, but he too returned as well.

With the loss, Washington wraps up the first winless season at home in the 116 year history and is 0-10 for the first time in their history. Next week they travel east to take on in-state rival Washington State in the Apple Cup and then after a week off they will take on California on the road to finish out the season on December 6th.