Vince Grippi’s Keys to the WSU Game

What went right

Washington State controlled the tempo, using a power running game to dominate time of possession by almost 14 minutes. Rickey Galvin carried 16 times for 88 yards, Carl Winston and Logwone Mitz combined for 65 more as the Cougars ran a season-high 40 times. Without the ball much, UCLA only ran 55 plays.

What went wrong

Too many big plays. Though the Bruins couldn’t march through the Cougars, they did go over them – Nelson Rosario had catches of 41 and 58 yards and just missed a couple more long completions. Whenever UCLA needed to make a play, backup quarterback Kevin Prince, only playing because of Richard Brehaut’s broken leg, seemed to make it.

Turning point

Facing a third-and-8 at the UCLA 30 with a little more than 6 minutes left, Marshall Lobbestael dropped back to throw. Much of the night he had found either Marquess Wilson or Isiah Barton when he needed to, but this time both were covered. There was room to run, however. Lobbestael tried, but defensive end Datone Jones wouldn’t let him, catching Lobbestael for no gain and forcing an Andrew Furney field goal.

Difference makers

Wide receiver Nelson Rosario came into the game leading UCLA with 23 catches. He only had three against the Cougars, but they were for 120 yards. His biggest one, a one-handed grab for 58 yards, came on the go-ahead drive and set UCLA up at the WSU 10. After the Bruins went ahead, he also reached up to grab the two-point conversion.