Defense instrumental in Bruins’ win over Huskies

PASADENA — Eddie Vanderdoes jumped off of the field to catch a fumbled ball, the product of freshman safety Tahaan Goodman’s facemask colliding with the pigskin held by Washington running back Bishop Sankey.

Not unlike a punt returner, Vanderdoes let the ball settle into his arms. Unlike a punt returner, Vanderdoes weighs 300 pounds, and his momentum carried him away from the UCLA end zone for a few yards before he turned up for an attempt to score. Vanderdoes’ play ended as a 6-yard fumble return, as he attempted to cut to the outside of the field while reading blocks and using his hand to guide a blocker in redshirt junior safety Anthony Jefferson.

“I had a hole, and right as I cut, (the tackler) jumped in my path … it would’ve went a lot further,” said Vanderdoes, a freshman defensive end.

Vanderdoes and the UCLA defense played an instrumental part in helping the Bruins engineer a 41-31 win over the Washington Huskies, with UCLA’s first two scoring drives coming off of forced fumbles which helped to build an early 14-0 lead. In total, the UCLA defense recovered two fumbles and collected two interceptions, with the latter turnovers erasing any attempts by the Huskies to come back from a 10-point deficit with less than five minutes left.

Vanderdoes’ opportunity at weaving his way down the field presented perhaps the most unlikely moment in a game of four lost fumbles between both teams, UCLA defensive starters turning in the Bruins’ first five scores and Washington’s backup quarterback Cyler Miles putting up almost identical statistics to UCLA redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley.

UCLA’s four turnovers were the most forced by the team since collecting six interceptions against Utah, and double the most turnovers in a single game that the team has collected since playing in Salt Lake City.

“Once one turnover happens, they come in bunches. If you just keep playing, turnovers are going to happen,” Jefferson said.

The game’s first fumble came when senior linebacker Jordan Zumwalt shouldered a ball loose from Washington tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who converted a third down with a 5-yard catch before coughing up the football. Jefferson scooped up the pigskin to give UCLA possession at the Washington 36.

The Huskies’ own good fortune and nose for the ball would eventually show themselves as the team erased a deficit as large as 20. About midway through the second quarter, senior running back Malcolm Jones fumbled the ball on a third-and-1 stop to give the Huskies the ball at the UCLA 13-yard line, eventually leading to UCLA surrendering its second touchdown drive in seeing its lead fall to 27-14.

The next touchdown drive in the game was also generated by a fumble, with UCLA freshman receiver Darren Andrews losing the opening kickoff. Miles, filling in for quarterback Keith Price, out with a shoulder injury, found Seferian-Jenkins in the end-zone for a 1-yard touchdown. Miles went on to finish 15-of-22 for two touchdowns and 149 passing yards, just 10 yards off of Hundley in as many attempts.

UCLA defensive coordinator Lou Spanos said he recognized that Miles was skilled, something he knew from how much he has seen the quarterback play for Washington during the third and fourth quarters of big wins throughout the season.

Jefferson said that Miles and a solid receiving corps combined for the unexpected performance.

“He was just able to make the correct reads. Their receivers were able to make plays. He made some pretty good throws, receivers made some good catches.”

UCLA coach Jim Mora found himself impressed with the way Washington kept itself in the game, despite being down as many as 20 points in the first half. Mora said that the Huskies were, at times, able to exploit the Bruins’ man defense and pressure looks.

“They made push after push after push. They are capable of doing some great things offensively.”