DAWGS LICK BRUINS

Bruins “improve” to 0-5 — When’s the last time UCLA BEAT THE SPREAD by 2 Touchdowns and the fans still left unhappy?  Bruins play better than they have been playing, holding a good Washington team to a 31-24 win, but it still leaves the Blue and Gold shockingly winless after 5 games

Ok, first of all, if you’re wondering why I haven’t been posting lately, I’ve been working 3 jobs, including a movie on which I’m putting in about 90 hours a week.  So no time to edit photos.  But it’s a good year to be too busy, because I don’t ever remember UCLA being so unsuccessful.

Even though the Bruins are definitely getting better, they still never gave me the feeling that they were going to win on Saturday.  Washington Quarterback Jake Browning was just too savvy, and talented.  Whenever he really needed a first down, if he couldn’t find a Receiver, he scrambled just past the first down marker.  And he had a lead to work with, after victimizing Bruin Cornerback Nate Meadors for a couple of huge plays where Meadors was in position but not getting his eyes on the ball in time.

The Bruin Defense, led by Krys Barnes and Darnay Holmes, is solidifying, especially at stopping the Running Backs — much better that last season.  But Browning was still able to run around, extend plays, and get whatever was needed.  A couple of Bruin penalties also aided the Huskies, as UW built a 24-7 lead at the Half.  After the Bruins cut it to 24-17, Washington came back for the deciding TD.  It was 31-17 with a few minutes to go, and Bruin fans began a mass exodus.  UCLA didn’t quit, driving for a TD,  but the Onside Kick failed, and that was that.

UCLA Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson had some good moments, and led two great drives.  He threw one Pick, and didn’t RUN as effectively as he could, but that was more due to the game plan than to his ability.  Bruin Starting Running Back Joshua Kelley showed why he IS the Starter, breaking off a couple of nice gains, tallying a career-high 125 yards, and showing better Running INSTINCTS than the other Backs with whom he is competing for the lead role.

If the Bruins maximize the talents of these two skill players, they may not go 0-12 this year.

Here are 43 more photos of the game, and of the Spirit Squad, included a few rare close-ups of the oft-neglected and under-appreciated Yell Crew.