UCLA's Trick Play Backfires in Spectacular Fashion
The UCLA Bruins suffered a humiliating 48-14 defeat at the hands of the Washington Huskies on Saturday night in a match that will be remembered for one of the most disastrous plays of the college football season. The encounter at the Rose Bowl was effectively decided shortly before half-time by a fake field goal attempt from UCLA that went catastrophically wrong, handing Washington a comical touchdown.
A Rout for the History Books
Washington secured their second consecutive victory for the first time since early October, routing their hosts in a stunning display. The win held extra significance as it was only the Huskies' second triumph at the Rose Bowl in three decades, having managed just one win in their previous ten visits to the iconic stadium.
The game's pivotal moment arrived with under two minutes remaining in the second quarter. With Washington leading 13-0, UCLA lined up for a 46-yard field goal. Instead of a standard kick, the Bruins opted for a high-risk trick play. Holder Cash Peterman attempted a blind, behind-the-head toss to onrushing kicker Mateen Bhaghani.
The execution was anything but perfect. The ball landed awkwardly in front of Bhaghani and was promptly scooped up by alert Washington safety Alex McLaughlin. McLaughlin then barged past the hapless Bhaghani, evaded a desperate tackle attempt from Peterman, and sprinted the entire way to the end zone for a remarkable touchdown.
Social Media Erupts and Questions Are Raised
The bizarre play instantly went viral, drawing widespread scorn and disbelief from college football fans. One social media user declared it 'the most UCLA play I've ever seen', while another suggested it perfectly 'summed up UCLA's season'. The level of farce even led some to question if the footage was generated by AI.
The embarrassment was so profound that fans began questioning the future of interim head coach Tim Skipper, with one suggesting the play meant he had 'just lost his shot at the permanent job'. As McLaughlin celebrated in the end zone, television cameras captured a wry and disbelieving smile from Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava on the sidelines.
On the field, Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. put in a commanding performance, scoring on two quarterback keepers and throwing for two additional touchdowns. He finished the night 17-of-26 for 213 yards passing, connecting with Dezman Roebuck for an 18-yard score and Decker DeGraaf for a 24-yard TD.
Huskies coach Jedd Fisch praised his team's mentality, stating, 'We made the game big. We let them know we're going to the Rose Bowl, we're going to go win this thing.' Meanwhile, touchdown-scorer McLaughlin credited the defensive line, saying, 'Our D-line dominated up front, so it just makes it easier for us.'
