Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS - It was hardly the way they drew it up, playing without their coach in a stadium in the middle of the desert, in front of the smallest crowd of their careers against a bunch of guys that two weeks ago they couldn't identify without a scorecard.
But there they were, Ben Emanuel, Rodney Leisle, Marcus Reese and Ricky Manning, all looking up into the stands in the final minute and leading a posse of UCLA fans through an eight clap.
When they were through clapping, thrusting their fists in the air and hugging each other, it was hard to tell this wasn't what they had in mind all along.
The Bruins' 27-13 victory over New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl in front of 21,584 on Wednesday might not be one worth remembering, but it was one worth savoring.
After the humiliating losses to USC and Washington State, the sacking of coach Bob Toledo and the uncertainty of the future under incoming coach Karl Dorrell, the Bruins were just happy to leave the field wearing smiles.
``People don't understand how much drama we've been through,'' Reese said. ``I mean, we've been through a lot the last few weeks - all the wondering about what's going on. This feels great.''
Particularly for the 14 seniors, the coaching staff, interim coach Ed Kezirian and Leisle, the junior defensive tackle - all of whom have likely participated as Bruins for the last time.
``I've always wanted to be the richest man in Las Vegas,'' said Kezirian, the team's academic adviser who was thrust into his new position two weeks ago. ``Right now, I feel like I am.''
Rich or poor, it's always nice to have good defense and special teams and they were what paid the bill against New Mexico (7-7).
Las Vegas Bowl MVP Craig Bragg broke a tie early in the third quarter with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown and early in the fourth quarter the Bruins' defense made back-to-back plays that clinched the game.
Safety Jarrad Page picked off a pass that bounced off the back of New Mexico tight end Zach Cresap and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown to put UCLA ahead 20-6.
On the next play from scrimmage, UCLA cornerback Joe Hunter stripped New Mexico receiver Joe Manning of the ball and linebacker Brandon Chillar recovered at the New Mexico 31. Seven plays later, Tyler Ebell scored on fourth-and-goal 1-yard plunge to put the Bruins ahead 27-6 with 10:40 to play.
In addition to the three turnovers, the Bruins held New Mexico tailback DonTrell Moore, who averaged 141 yards the past four games, to 17 yards on 14 carries.
``To be honest, we knew they were scared,'' said Hunter, a senior who played the minutes of a starter Wednesday. ``They're a good team, but thought we could break them with a big play. We needed one breaking point.''
The UCLA defense knows a breaking point when it sees one. In its past two games, the Bruins have allowed 100 points.
``We owed coach (Phil) Snow a good defensive effort,'' said middle linebacker Reese, who had a team-high eight tackles and three sacks. ``The last couple of games we let him down.''
The Bruins' defense and special teams made up for a woeful offensive effort. UCLA was held to a season-low 167 yards and helped the Lobos to their only points until the final minutes - on Desmar Black's 55-yard interception return for a touchdown in the first quarter.
UCLA (8-5) struggled to adjust to New Mexico's unorthodox 3-3-5 defense, which held the Bruins to negative yardage on 15 of their 61 plays. Their first scoring drive, a 49-yard field goal by Nate Fikse after a New Mexico fumble, was four plays for minus-12 yards.
``It's a tough defense,'' UCLA quarterback Drew Olson said. ``It's confusing and they're good at running that. There's not much you can do.''
Olson, who started, was supposed to play the first and third quarters, but on his final pass at the end of the first quarter, he hit his thumb on a New Mexico player's helmet. It swelled up at halftime and he did not return.
The best and only real drive the offense had was after it recovered Manning's fumble at the New Mexico 31. It was also the only real coaching decision Kezirian had - what to do on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
Unlike Toledo, he had plenty of advice. ``We were all yelling to go for it,'' Emanuel said.
Kezirian looked good when Ebell - after the Bruins had been stuffed on two running plays - leaped over a pile and into the end zone.
Kezirian, who concludes his head-coaching career as the only one in school history with a perfect record, deflected any credit toward the seniors and the assistant coaches, most of whom will begin looking for work today.
The day was especially satisfying for Snow, the defensive coordinator. He doesn't expect to be back and was miffed when Kezirian was chosen to be interim coach, but he was pleased with how the past two weeks went.
``We coached them hard the last couple weeks and we didn't get any static,'' Snow said. ``They didn't have to listen to us if they didn't want to - we're not going to be around next year - but they were great.
``They can walk away with their chin up high.''
CAPTION(S):
3 photos, box
Photo:
(1 -- color) UCLA running back Tyler Ebell (2) is in the middle of a pack of celebrating Bruins players Wednesday after UCLA defeated New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl.
(2) UCLA's Jarrad Page returns an interception 29 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl on Wednesday.
Joe Cavaretta/Associated Press
(3) UCLA defensive end Rusty Williams holds aloft the trophy the Bruins won by defeating New Mexico in the Las Vegas Bowl.
Eric Jamison/Associated Press
Box:
UCLA BOWL APPEARANCES
