BYU is best on the block

UCLA kicker Kai Forbath had already made field goals from 22, 52 and 50 yards, so as he waited to swing his right leg into 28-yard chip shot, the Las Vegas Bowl appeared over.

Forbath stood there with 3 seconds left because UCLA showed up Saturday with intensity not always seen from the game's Pacific-10 Conference representative.

He stood there waiting to hand Brigham Young a crushing defeat, thanks largely to a Cougars coaching gaffe that allowed UCLA to play a different type of game.

But when it came time to make the kick, Forbath delivered a low liner that BYU's Eathyn Manumaleuna rose up and deflected to preserve a 17-16 victory over the Bruins before a sellout crowd of 40,712 at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Much of that crowd immediately rushed the field that has become a second home for the Cougars. No. 19 BYU (11-2) has won this bowl twice in a row, and its 10-game winning streak this season is the nation's second longest.

"I couldn't think of a more fitting way or more fitting play to show the resolve and determination of this team," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said.

His Cougars prevailed despite being shut out in the second half.

UCLA (6-7) held BYU to 265 yards, nearly 200 below its average. The Bruins allowed only 34 yards rushing, putting pressure on BYU quarterback Max Hall, who passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns.

"I think they're the best defense we've faced all year," Hall said.

If the Bruins had a passing game -- quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson went 11 of 27 for 154 yards -- they could've made the night even more difficult for BYU. Tailback Chris Markey gave UCLA most of its offense with 117 yards rushing.

The Bruins, who could have gone through the motions with the uncertainty surrounding interim coach DeWayne Walker's future, appeared to play harder than their two previous trips to this bowl.

"These players and these coaches, they worked, they worked," Walker said. "No coach was worried about jobs, and players, they didn't worry about the new head coach.

"For me, this is a special moment. I'm very proud of this football team."

Walker's team nearly made him a winner, just a short field goal away.

"I feel they got lucky," Markey said of Brigham Young.

But in some ways, UCLA got lucky, too.

BYU led 17-6 with 19 seconds remaining in the first half, taking over at its 4-yard line. Instead of Hall taking a knee to run out the clock, he was instructed to hand off to freshman tailback Harvey Unga. UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price forced a fumble that was recovered by safety Dennis Keyes.

Two plays later, UCLA scored on Bethel-Thompson's 4-yard pass to wide receiver Brandon Breazell to make the score 17-13.

Mendenhall said offensive coordinator Robert Anae made the running call.

"I'll defend the call," Mendenhall said. "It's easy right now to say we should've taken a knee."

Even so, Mendenhall said he assumed Hall would take a knee, and that situation wouldn't happen again.

Walker said he was "very, very surprised" at the decision, and that UCLA probably would have been forced to throw more in the second half if it had to rally from 11 points down rather than four.

The bottom line, though, is Brigham Young won, and the Cougars hope this victory will help get them a favorable preseason ranking next year to make it easier to get into a Bowl Championship Series game.

"We talk all along that our goal is to get to a BCS game and get in that spotlight," Hall said. "So, hopefully, this will be good for our start next year."

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.