UCLA Football Struggles to ‘Finish in the Paint’ in Loss to Washington
The UCLA football team’s mantra of “finishing in the paint” was put to the test once again Friday night as they fell to Washington, continuing their battle to secure bowl eligibility. While the defense showed promise, intercepting Washington quarterback Will Rogers twice in the third quarter, the offense faltered, managing only a field goal from those turnovers.
“Disappointing,” said UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers, who completed 27 of 44 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns, despite enduring six sacks. “We’ve got to be better, and that starts with me.”
The Bruins experienced offensive line instability, with Yutaka Mahe stepping in for injured Jaylan Jeffers, marking the fourth different left tackle used this season. Despite a strong defensive showing—limiting Washington’s high-flying passing attack to just 182 yards—UCLA’s inability to capitalize on defensive stops cost them the game.
Linebacker Shane Foster noted the team’s recurring issues, stating, “We just continue to shoot ourselves in the foot.” The emphasis on finishing strong was initially sharpened after a stinging interception against Minnesota that cost the Bruins a potential win. Receiver Logan Loya added, “It’s just finishing. Once that happened, we knew we could not let that happen again.”
With only two games left in the regular season—both at home against USC and Fresno State—the Bruins are eager to improve. “If you want to extend your season and play in bowl games, you’ve got to take it one week at a time,” Foster emphasized.
As the UCLA squad prepares for their upcoming challenges, the focus remains clear: they must learn to finish strong, or risk missing out on postseason play altogether.
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