UCLA 32, South Alabama 31
When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 17, 2022
Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Temperature:
°
Head Official:
Chris Coyle
Attendance:
29344
By Field Level Media
Nicholas Barr-Mira connected on four field-goal attempts, including a 24-yarder as time expired, and UCLA escaped becoming the latest Power Five conference team to lose to a Sun Belt Conference opponent this season with a 32-31 decision over South Alabama on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.
UCLA (3-0) trailed 31-29 with about three minutes remaining and South Alabama bringing on its field-goal unit for what appeared to be a 39-yard attempt. Instead, the Jaguars attempted a fake on the fourth-and-2 play, resulting in a sack by Carl Jones Jr. and the Bruins taking possession.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who finished 20-of-30 passing for 263 yards and three touchdowns, completed three consecutive throws that, combined with a South Alabama penalty, moved UCLA from its own 33-yard line to deep in Jaguars territory.
A few running plays later set Barr-Mira for the chip-shot field goal. He also connected on attempts of 38, 49 and 28 yards.
South Alabama (2-1) came into Saturday's contest looking to join conference counterparts Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Marshall with Power Five wins after the three knocked off Texas A&M, Nebraska and Notre Dame, respectively, last week.
Tough red-zone defense that allowed UCLA only six points combined on three of its trips inside the Jaguars 20-yard line and a balanced offense that produced 399 total yards had South Alabama ahead much of the way.
It led 17-6 in the first half, and 31-23 heading into the fourth quarter after the second Bruins turnover -- a botched pitch from Thompson-Robinson to Zach Charbonnet -- set South Alabama up at the 6-yard line.
The Jaguars cashed in on the takeaway with Caullin Lacy's touchdown reception from Carter Bradley. Bradley finished 26-of-36 passing for 237 with the score and an interception. La'Damian Webb rushed for 124 yards to lead all ball-carriers, and Marco Lee scored a pair of goal-line touchdowns for South Alabama.
--Field Level Media
Top Game Performances
Receiving
South Alabama |
|
UCLA |
Jalen Wayne
|
Player |
Jake Bobo
|
7 |
Receptions |
5 |
76 |
Yards |
89 |
10.9 |
Avg Yards |
17.8 |
0 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
0 |
Long |
0 |
Team Stats Summary
|
Yards |
Scoring |
Defense |
Team |
Tot |
Rus |
Pas |
TD |
FG |
INT |
Sck |
FF |
South Alabama
|
399 |
162 |
237 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
0.0 |
1 |
UCLA
|
407 |
144 |
263 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1.0 |
1 |