Washington football: Huskies hold off UCLA 31-24. 3 takeaways
By Matt Barry
The Bruins were not easy to put away
UCLA was seeking their first win and Washington was playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1995. The Bruins have struggled mightily, but they do have Chip Kelly at the helm, along with a promising freshman quarterback, and a very good running back. UW’s pass defense is a strength, so it was a surprise that Bruins QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bruins didn’t just roll over and play dead because the Huskies took a 24-7 lead into the locker room at half-time. They showed some promise with a balanced attack that saw Joshua Kelley run for 116 yards and a score.
The Bruins clawed back after the break, they outscored Washington 17-7 in the second half. UCLA scored on a nine play, 75-yard drive with 1:38 left in the game. It was one of two TD drives of the same length, the other was 90 yards. On the ensuing play, Washington recovered an onsides kick to seal the victory.
UW has a talented, veteran team, with a senior quarterback who made the necessary plays to win. Conference road games are not supposed to be easy and this one was no different. The Huskies staved off a UCLA upset and continued toward their goals of winning the PAC-12 Conference and earning a spot in the college football playoff.