Last Saturday in Tempe, Ariz., UCLA found itself in a predicament that is becoming familiar.
The Bruins were on top 35-26 at the onset of the final quarter when Arizona State quarterback Taylor Kelly used just three plays to find the end zone. The touchdown would begin a rally that saw the Sun Devils score 17 fourth-quarter points to take a 43-42 lead over UCLA with less than two minutes to play.
By now, the outcome is well known: A struggling freshman kicker named Ka’imi Fairbairn blasted the biggest kick of his young career with just two seconds left to give UCLA the 45-43 win in dramatic fashion.
These close fourth-quarter situations are becoming more prevalent for the Bruins. While this time, they were able to overcome it, last month in Berkeley they were not. And with No. 22 Arizona coming to town this weekend, UCLA (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) is trying to figure out a way to not only defend against the fourth quarter comeback, but figure out a way to not put themselves in the position in the first place.
“I think it starts with not being in that situation,” said linebacker Anthony Barr. “If we are able to get off the field early in games and keep the (opponent) offense to a minimum as much as possible then we’ll be safe.”
Arizona (5-3, 2-3 Pac 12) has outscored opponents, 78-67, in the fourth quarter with the most significant fourth quarter coming last week against USC. The Wildcats put up 13 points in the fourth to topple the Trojans, 39-36, effectively ending USC’s national championship hopes and getting them back on track in the conference.
For UCLA’s part, the Bruins have also outscored opponents in the fourth quarter. But four times the Bruins have allowed fourth quarter scores while holding the lead, and those scores proved to be a difference-maker in losses to California and Oregon State.
The defense has at times lapsed in the final period, forcing the offense to play nearly perfect in order to compensate.
“I think towards the end of the game people start getting a little fatigued,” Barr said. “But we’ve just got to fight through it and try to stay focused because that’s when most of those mistakes come.”
The imitation of these scenarios in practices has taken on a new level of importance.
“You just never know and that’s why we practice situational football so often,” Mora said. “On (Fridays), it’s a big situation day for us and we walk through different scenarios that could come up at the end of the game… I think the most important thing, no matter what, is that you are mentally prepared and you put yourselves in those situations in practice so that you know how to react.”
Whether it was gutsy or whether it was controversial, Matt Scott’s performance against the Trojans was enough to kick the UCLA defense into high gear in practices this week. The Wildcats are third in the Pac-12 in scoring offense and the average of nearly 40 points per game hasn’t gone unnoticed.
“They’re fast, they’re furious and they score a lot of points,” Mora said. “The important thing is to get a real grasp of what they’re trying to do offensively and schematically.
