By Rich Whittington
(Pasadena) The UCLA Bruins celebrated their seniors Saturday afternoon, defeating the visiting Fresno State Bulldogs, 20-13, in front of a Rose Bowl crowd of 35,018.
UCLA opened the scoring for the afternoon, when Mateen Bhaghani converted a 23-yard field goal making the score 3-0 with 4:36 remaining in the opening quarter. After trading possessions, with minimal success moving the ball, the score remained 3-0, Bruins, as the first quarter ended.
The Bruins got their first big break of the contest, as Jaden Marshall recovered a fumbled punt return on the first play of the second quarter. This gave UCLA the ball, first and ten, on the Fresno State 12-yard line. UCLA was forced to settle for a 40-yard Bhaghani field goal, making the score 6-0, with 12:50 remaining in the opening half.
The Bulldogs took the lead a few minutes later, as Mikey Keene connected with Raylen Sharpe for an 8-yard touchdown. The extra point was added by Dylan Lynch, making the score 7-6, in favor of the Bulldogs, with 7:29 remaining in the period. Fresno State added to their lead, as Lynch added a 48-yard field goal as time expired. This made the score 10-6 at halftime.
UCLA retook the lead on their first possession of the third quarter, as T.J. Harden scored on a 5-yard blast. Bhaghani added the extra point making the score 13-10 with 11:43 remaining in the period. As scoring was at a premium in this contest, 13-10 was the score at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter saw the teams trade possessions, with neither side mounting much of an attack. UCLA increased their lead with 1:38 remaining on the clock, as Ethan Garbers connected with J. Michael Sturdivant for a 2-yard score. Another successful Bhaghani kick made the score 20-10, in favor of the Bruins. Fresno State tightened things up a bit, as Lynch converted another field goal, this one from 42 yards, making the score 20-13 with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Fresno then attempted an onside kick, which was recovered by the Bruins, sealing the UCLA victory.
The Bruins finish their season with a record of 5-7, 3-6 in the Big 10 Conference. Fresno State drops to 6-6, 4-3 in the Mountain West Conference, and will have to wait and see if they are offered a bowl bid.
35,000 people watched UCLA. You could stretch out like your at home in your lazy boy. They should start playing at East L.A. stadium next year.