Arizona stuns UCLA as time expires in Rose Bowl Thriller

UCLA Bruins #1 Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB) scrambling out of the pocket to pick up extra yardage. Photo by Jared Dubose/TGSportstv1.

PASADENA, CA - The No.12 UCLA Bruins (8-2, Pac-12, 5-2) watched a path to the Pac-12 Championship and possible College Playoff Berth slip through their fingertips after losing to the Arizona Wildcats (4-6, Pac-12, 2-5) at the Rose Bowl 34-28.

UCLA’s quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 26 of his 39 passes for 245-yards and one touchdown.

Arizona quarterback Jayden De Laura had two touchdowns for 315-yards with no interceptions but his elusiveness scrambling and ability to extend plays was the real game changer.

“All of those big plays that he made while he was running around, I think that was the difference in the game,” said UCLA head coach Chip Kelly.

Arizona Wildcats #7 Jayden De Laura (QB) is being chased by the UCLA Bruins’ #11 Gabriel Murphy (DL). Photo by Jared Dubose/TGSportstv1.

The Wildcats jumped to an early 14-0 lead in the first quarter after De Laura fired a 22-yard touchdown strike to running back Michael Wiley.

UCLA rallied back answering with 14 straight points. A 1-yard touchdown run up the gut of the Wildcat defense by Bruin running back Zach Charbonnet cut the lead in half.

A play-action fake to Charbonnet minutes later led to a 51-yard touchdown catch by tight-end Hudson Habermehl who bulldozed through two defenders breaking tackles on his way to the endzone.

UCLA Bruins #24 Zach Charbonnet (RB) scored three touchdowns against the Arizona Wildcats’ defense. Photo by Jared Dubose/TGSportstv1.

Charbonnet continued his Heisman push rushing for 181 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns. He was also UCLA’s leading receiver with nine receptions on the night.

“I don’t think you have a game plan to eliminate that guy,” said Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch. “Charbonnet is going to have a big game and good for him, they’re going to have a great run scheme.”

The Bruins trailed the Wildcats 21-14 at the half after Bruin quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson fumbled just outside of the red zone with 17 seconds remaining in the quarter.

UCLA tied the game 21-21 in the third quarter after Charbonnet scored on another 1-yard touchdown run.

Arizona Wildcats #4 Tetairoa McMillan (WR) game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Photo by Jared Dubose/TGSportstv1.

In the fourth quarter, Charbonnet rushed for a 5-yard touchdown run; his third on the night to give the Bruins a 28-24 lead.

De Laura proceeded to lead the Wildcats down the field to give them a 31-28 lead after a 17-yard touchdown pass to his wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

The Bruins had one last chance late with Robinson leading them down the field in the final minutes.

Thompson-Robinson threw a pass into the endzone for the game-winning touchdown and sailed through the fingertips of receiver Jake Bobo’s outstretched arms as time expired ending the Bruins' title hopes.

UCLA has now lost two of their last four games dropping them to fourth in the conference after starting the day on top of it.

With two games remaining left in the season the Bruins face one of their stiffest tests with the (9-1) USC Trojans up next.

The Trojans feature Heisman candidate Quarterback Caleb Williams who leads a high-powered Trojan offense.

USC comes into the matchup against their crosstown rival with added incentive as the Pac-12’s last remaining playoff hopeful. The game will be held next Saturday in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl.