GAME PREVIEW
Play just their 2nd home game of the season, this was a huge game for the Washington State Cougars, as they had 12 players on campus in attendance for today's game.
(Game note, I made a playbook change trying out Baylor's playbook and installed FR James Roland in the Pistol formation, with J. Tuell playing QB in all other formations.)
GAME RECAP
UCLA would jump out early taking a 10-0 lead in the 1st Quarter on a J. Franklin TD run.
WSU would answer back with a 34 yd TD pass from Tuell to Barton, and then later add a 33 yd FG by R. Parrish to tie the game (10-10) However the game wasn't tied for long as J. Franklin runs in his 2nd TD of the game (17-10) With 1:13 to play WSU would get the ball and open the drive with FR J. Roland lined up in the Pistol Formation. Roland would complete his 1st pass attempt, then scramble for a 12 yd gain, before throwing a INT. The Cougar "D" would step up though knocking down the Bruins pass attempt as time expired.
The 2nd half would be one for the record books as both team's showed big play ability. WSU would open the half with another Parrish FG to make it 17-13 Then it was the J. Franklin and I. Barton show. Franklin would score his 3rd TD (12 yd run) to make it 24-13, WSU answer back as Tuell hit I. Barton on a 89 yd TD Bomb to make it 24-20 at the end of the 3rd.
The 4th Quarter continued to give us explosives plays as Franklin breaks through the Cougar "D" for a 83 yd TD run (his 4th) (31-20), WSU would answer back as Tuell hits I. Barton on a 83 yd catch and run (his 3rd) to make it (31-27). With Franklin on the sideline getting a breather it was former Oregon Duck Kajon Barner scoring from 2 yds out to make it (38-27). Less then a minute later it was Tuell to I. Barton again this time on a 80 yd connection (his 4th) to make it 38-34. After a huge Defensive stop, J. Tuell and Barton made school history as Tuell hit the SR WR on a 62 yd TD pass with 37 seconds to play putting WSU up 41-38. UCLA however wasn't done showing they to can score through the air, QB R. Brehaut hit R. Marvery on a 52 yd TD Bomb that took just 10 seconds off the clock to make it (45-41) with 27 seconds to play. With I. Barton drawing triple coverage, Tuell would find G. Simone down the sideline for a 49 yd gain, but 8 seconds to play, a FG would be no use, Tuell would take the snap and drop back and looking for some Barton "Magic" instead the ball would find the hands of a Bruin defender as UCLA pulled off the road win.
FINAL SCORE WSU-41 UCLA-45
KEY PLAYERS
QB J. Tuell 25/48 636 yds (New school record) 5 TD's 2 INT
WR I. Barton-13 rec 437 yds (New school recored) 5 TD's (tied school record)
WR. R. Jiles 5 rec 93 yds
QB R. Brehaut 19/27 285 yds 1 TD
RB J. Franklin 29 carries 211 yds 4 TD
RB K. Barner 14 carries 69 yds 1 TD
WR R. Marvey 5 rec 129 yds 1 TD
(This game now ranks as my #1 All-time with a score of 1880!!)
POST GAME COMMENTS BY COACH DODGE
"Even though I am very disappointed with the outcome of the game, I felt like we did some things very well, Obviously passing the ball especially big plays from Tuell to Barton. That was huge. I have never had a WR get 400+ yds in a game. For some reason no matter how many defenders he had on him he found ways to get open. I am really disappointed with the Run "D". You can't give up almost 300 yds on the ground and expect to win a game. UCLA got very luck when Barner decided to transfer. They now have 2 very talented backs and Brehaut played great not forcing bad passes
Even though we lost, I had several of the recruits come up to me after the game and tell me how much they enjoyed their visit and how they can't wait to be apart of the Cougar rebuilding. They can see we are heading in the right direction"