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UCLA beats UW; Price injured

UCLA’s Myles Jack, who also plays linebacker, rushed for four scores, the first Bruins running back to do so in nearly a decade.
UCLA’s Myles Jack, who also plays linebacker, rushed for four scores, the first Bruins running back to do so in nearly a decade.
Associated Press

PASADENA, Calif. – Myles Jack was surprised when he learned the identity of the last UCLA running back to score four rushing touchdowns nearly a decade ago.

“Wow, Maurice Jones-Drew was my idol back in my running back days,” Jack said.

Jack is still a linebacker at heart. But his running back days are now.

Just ask the Washington Huskies after the remarkable freshman from the Seattle suburbs ran right through their defense.

Jack ran for 60 yards and four scores, defensive end Cassius Marsh caught a touchdown pass, and No. 13 UCLA stayed in control of its destiny in the Pac-12 South race with a 41-31 victory over Washington on Friday night.

Devin Lucien turned a short pass into a 40-yard TD with 9:57 to play, and the Bruins (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) got creative to hold off a lively challenge from the Huskies (6-4, 3-4), who lost starting quarterback Keith Price to a shoulder injury right before halftime.

Jack followed up his 120-yard debut at running back last week by becoming the 13th player in UCLA history to score four touchdowns. Jack and the hulking Marsh scored the Bruins’ first five touchdowns as UCLA stayed right behind division leader Arizona State, which visits Pasadena next weekend.

“I don’t really take much credit for it,” Jack said. “It’s just the line blocking for me. The holes are right there, and I just hit them. When I’m in there, everybody in the stadium knows what we’re about to run.”

So far, nobody can stop it.

For the second straight week, Bruins offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone dipped into the defense’s roster to win a back-and-forth meeting of two bowl-bound teams.

UCLA coach Jim Mora had been coy about whether Jack would even play offense again, but the freshman jumped in during the Bruins’ opening series, rushing for an 8-yard score on his first carry. Used mostly as a short-yardage back, he added two more scores in the first half and finished with 12 carries.

He also made five tackles.

“He’s having fun out there,” said Brett Hundley, who passed for 159 yards and two scores. “I talk to him in the backfield and put a smile on his face. He’s a monster, that’s all I can say.”

Cyler Miles passed for 149 yards after replacing Price, but the Huskies have lost nine of their last 12 Pac-12 road games.

Damore’ea Stringfellow, Jaydon Mickens and Austin Seferian-Jenkins caught TD passes for Washington, which hasn’t beaten UCLA at the Rose Bowl since 1995.

“We’ve got to get right back up, but it’s going to be a big challenge,” Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said. “It’s probably good we get an extra day (of rest), because that locker room is hurting right now.”

The Bruins led 27-7 early in the second quarter and were up 34-24 heading to the fourth.

Miles, a redshirt freshman, has played only sparingly behind Price, a three-year starter who holds Washington’s career record for touchdown passes. Miles went 15 for 22, but threw two interceptions on consecutive throws in the final minutes.

Bishop Sankey rushed for 91 yards and a score for UW.