UCLA avoids upset after South Alabama's failed trick play

UCLA Bruins linebacker Carl Jones Jr. (35) tackles South Alabama Jaguars quarterback Tanner McGee (10) for an 11-yard loss on a fake field goal attempt in the fourth quarter at the Rose Bowl. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA narrowly avoids upset after South Alabama's failed fake field-goal attempt

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 9/17/22

The 2022 college football season has been the year of the upset. Just ask Texas A&M its thoughts on Appalachian State. Or Notre Dame how it feels about Marshall.

The South Alabama Jaguars had a chance to add their names to the list of upset-hungry teams. Sure, they were playing UCLA in a stadium that had maybe 15 fans in it, but it would have still been a Sun Belt team beating a Pac-12 team, though, right?

Wild atmosphere at the Rose Bowl today pic.twitter.com/PQkYmuH8Mp
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) September 17, 2022

Wrong.

The Jaguars never got the chance to celebrate, potentially because of a foolish call.

With 2:52 to go in the game and South Alabama already up 31-29, the Jags were faced with a 4th-and-2 at the UCLA 22.

With that backdrop in mind, it looked like head coach Kane Wommack decided to make the logical call and attempt a 40-yard field goal to put South Alabama up five points and likely ice the game. At the very least, it would have made it so that UCLA would have to get a touchdown to win.

The Jaguars lined up for a kick, but suddenly...a wild trick play appeared. What happened next was disastrous for South Alabama.

South Alabama ran a trick play instead of kicking the field goal to put them up 5

UCLA drove down the field and kicked a game winning field goal after this

Wild pic.twitter.com/FXwE8cWSMk
— Pardon My Take (@PardonMyTake) September 17, 2022

As Pardon My Take pointed out, UCLA subsequently took the ball from its own 33-yard line and went on a 10-play drive that culminated in a game-winning field goal.

... .

Take a look at Nicholas Barr-Mira's game-winning 24-yard field goal, as time expired at the Rose Bowl.#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/Ip65bzHKP5
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 17, 2022

All six UCLA fans at the Rose Bowl were ecstatic.

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