The UCLA Bruins lost their first game in over a month to Washington on Friday night 31-19.
Starting slow, the Bruins trailed for the entirety of the game, as their offense and defense could not convert at critical junctures. Though the Bruins out-gained the Huskies, their untimely nine penalties doomed their chances for a second half comeback.
After the game, according to Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, head coach DeShaun Foster said of the Bruins’ performance, “I’m not going to make any excuses for us: We just weren’t at our best, and it hurts when you know you can come out and play a little bit better than you did, you know?”
Though UCLA’s loss to Washington does not diminish their midseason success, it serves as a sobering reminder to fans that the team still has a long way to go. At 4-6 on the season, the Bruins could still draw even to end the year 6-6 with wins over USC and Fresno State.
But for the first time in a long time, the Bruins coaches and players look to regroup and return to the drawing board after a loss.