Colorado Buffaloes vs UCLA Bruins Box Score on Oct 31, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Oct 31, 2015

PASADENA -- UCLA kept alive its slim PAC-12 South hopes Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl but just barely. Upstart Colorado played keep away from the Bruins' offense for much of the game, but No. 24 UCLA was able to escape with a 35-31 victory before 51,508 at the Rose Bowl.

A fourth-down defensive stand by the Bruins with 3:34 to go and the Buffaloes driving was the critical play for UCLA. Colorado got the ball back with 1:51 remaining before Bruins cornerback Nate Meadors' interception clinched the victory with 51 seconds left.

UCLA (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) had substantially fewer offensive plays than Colorado (4-5, 1-4), but the Bruins enjoyed a 118-yard rushing performance from junior Paul Perkins.

Perkins unleashed several nifty moves, turning a screen pass into a 31-yard touchdown with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter to give UCLA a 7-0 lead. Perkins' catch and run capped an 11-play, 91 yard drive.

The Buffaloes put themselves in position to tie the score, driving inside the Bruins' 5-yard line. But quarterback Sefo Liufau had his pass intercepted at the four by UCLA cornerback Ishmael Adams, who returned it 96 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-0 with 7:01 left in the second quarter. It was the second first-half drive that Colorado had consisting of 16 plays that resulted in zero points.

The Buffaloes broke their scoreless drought with 3:29 left in the first half when Diego Gonzalez made up for his missed first quarter field goal try with a 25-yarder. Twenty seconds later, the Bruins were in the end zone again when Perkins took a handoff at the UCLA 18 and raced 82 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 21-3.

Colorado closed out the first half with a 13-play, 72 yard drive that produced only a 23-yard field goal by Gonzalez.

The first half was lopsided in the Buffaloes' favor in nearly every area except for the most important - the scoreboard. Colorado held a 278-197 edge in total yards, had 18 first downs to the Bruins' five and ran 61 offensive plays to UCLA's 21.

The Buffaloes showed their first-half success was no fluke as it took the opening second-half kickoff and drove 75 yards in eight plays to score on Donovan Lee's 1-yard touchdown run with 12:06 left in the third quarter. That cut the Bruins' lead to 21-13.

UCLA stretched the advantage to 28-13 with a six-play, 81-yard drive. Backup running back Nate Starks scored the touchdown on an 11-yard run with 7:35 left in the third quarter. Colorado responded with a 45-yard field goal by Gonzalez 6:29 later.

The Buffaloes turned a takeaway into a score with 14:37 left when Josh Rosen fumbled after being sacked. Colorado defensive tackle Samson Kafovalu picked up the loose ball and ran 33 yards for a touchdown to slice UCLA's lead to 28-23.

The Buffaloes forced a punt and scored again two plays later. A 62-yard pass completion from Liufau to running back Devin Ross set up a 6-yard touchdown by freshman running back Patrick Carr. Liufau then hit wide receiver Nelson Spruce for a two-point conversion to give Colorado its first lead 31-28.

The Bruins went back on top 35-31 with 8:28 left to play when freshman running back Soso Jamabo scored on a 2-yard run. Rosen's 38-yard completion to wide receiver Thomas Duarte was the big play in the 69-yard drive.

Liufau was 37 of 57 for 312 yards and two interceptions, while Carr rushed for 100 yards after totaling 102 in his first five games.

NOTES: Colorado entered Saturday's game having lost 19 consecutive games against ranked teams and 24 in a row against ranked teams on the road. The Buffaloes' last road victory over a ranked team occurred in 2002 at the Rose Bowl against UCLA. ... UCLA WRs Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte have been freshman quarterback Josh Rosen's go-to playmakers the past four games. Payton has 25 catches for 363 yards and two touchdowns. Duarte has 25 receptions for 381 yards and six touchdowns. ...

Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre is coaching his son, Jay, who is a redshirt freshman wide receiver. Jay MacIntyre has caught seven passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. ...

UCLA senior kicker Ka'Imi Fairbairn has made 31 of 36 field goals dating back to last season. He ranks fourth on the school's career field goal list.