UCLA wins second game in a row, burying Cougars
PULLMAN — The UCLA football team picked a good time to peak.
The Bruins (5-5, 2-5 Pacific-10 Conference) beat Washington State 43-7 on Saturday for their second consecutive win, keeping alive their bowl hopes.
“We set a goal to be undefeated in the month of November,” said UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince, who threw for 314 yards and ran for a touchdown. “We’re 2-0 in November.”
The Bruins endured a five-game losing streak that threatened to derail their season. But they play Arizona State next week and Southern Cal the following week, with a chance to become bowl eligible.
“We put ourselves in position these last two weeks to have a winning season,” coach Rick Neuheisel said. “Now we have to press the pedal all the way to the floor to get it done.”
Chane Moline rushed just three times, but all were for touchdowns, as UCLA gained 556 yards and posted a season-high in points against one of the nation’s worst defenses.
Washington State (1-9, 0-7) lost its seventh straight game, and was held to just 181 yards. The Cougars buried themselves early, with quarterback Marshall Lobbestael throwing interceptions on their first three possessions.
“It’s pretty frustrating any time stuff like that happens,” said Jeffrey Solomon, who scored WSU’s only touchdown on a 46-yard reception from Kevin Lopina late in the third quarter.
Lobbestael, starting in place of injured Jeff Tuel, completed just 2 of 6 passes for six yards. He was pulled in the second quarter for Lopina, a former starter who had not played since he was injured in the second game of the season.
“I wanted to go out and make a statement and have fun,” said Lopina, who completed 7 of 14 passes for 102 yards.
The Cougars were playing their first home game in a month.
Prince, who suffered a concussion and missed the second half of last week’s victory over Washington, completed 27 of 40 passes and also ran for 76 yards.
On UCLA’s first play from scrimmage, Prince threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Taylor Embree.
On WSU’s next possession, Lobbestael was intercepted by Rahim Moore, who leads the nation with nine picks. But the Bruins had to punt.
Lobbestael was intercepted by Akeem Ayers on WSU’s next series. Moline punched over from the 2 for a 14-0 UCLA lead. WSU has been outscored 159-3 in the first quarter this season.
Prince, a freshman, scrambled 68 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. He ended up running behind WSU linebacker Myron Beck, who was in pursuit of a receiver and was not aware Prince was behind him.
“If he had turned around, I would have been sliding,” Prince said. “He never turned around.”
