HONOLULU Kansas’ football team went to the Aloha Bowl looking for a shootout, but it was hit and miss for UCLA.
A comparison of the respective quarterbacks tells the story of which gunslinger was quicker to the draw. Kansas senior quarterback Mark Williams completed 18 of his 27 pass attempts for 288 yards and three touchdowns.
“If I had to say what the difference in the gam was, I thought Williams at quarterback was absolutely outstanding,” UCLA football coach Terry Donahue said.
The Jayhawks built a 23-0 lead before the Bruins finally got on the scoreboard. With 7:40 remaining in the third quarter, UCLA freshman quarterback Cade McNown hit freshman split end Brad Melsby on a quick slant for an eight-yard touchdown.
McNown was inconsistent all game, though, completing only 13 of 34 passes for 121 yards. Although he did manage three touchdowns, they came late in the game.
“We didn’t really get it going,” McNown said. “We were just inconsistent the whole first half.”
The closest the Bruins came to catching the Jayhawks was a 37-22 deficit with 12:43 remaining in the contest. This was made possible be freshman free safety Vito Clemente, who recovered an onside pooch kick following McNown’s second touchdown pass.
After UCLA recovered the ball on the Kansas 30-yard line, it only took five plays and 1:01 to get into the end zone. Junior talkback Karim Abdul-Jabbar started left at the five yard line and then turned upfield for the score.
Abdul-Jabbar did his part for the Bruins, as he had all year, finishing with 152 yards rushing and a touchdown on 26 carries. He also had four receptions for 34 yards.
On the ensuing drive, the Jayhawks marched down to the Bruins’ 21-yard line before UCLA junior cornerback Paul Guidry intercepted a Williams pass.
UCLA took possession of the ball on its own five-yard line with a chance to cut into the 15-point Kansas lead, but couldn’t convert a first down. Abdul-Jabbar was stopped for no gain on third down and one and freshman tailback Akil Davis was stopped for a four-yard loss on fourth down.
“We didn’t let up in the second half,” McNown said. “Even though the score didn’t indicate it, we all came away winners.”
Kansas added to its lead three players later, as Williams used a play-action fake and rolled out to his left. Putting a move on UCLA junior free safety Anthony Cobbs, Williams ran in for a six-yard score with 4:30 to play.
Both teams added a touchdown in the closing minutes and the Jayhawks held on for 51-30 victory.
“We thought we could make as many big plays as they could,” UCLA junior outside linebacker Abdul McCullough said. “The big difference was their playmakers made plays and ours didn’t.”
Donahue, who is retiring to work as an analyst for CBS, came a full circle as he coached in his first bowl game for Kansas and coached in his last bowl game against the Jayhawks.
The finale is one he would just as soon not remember.
“Its obviously disappointing for me to leave coaching on this note,” the UCLA coach said. “I thought that if we lost I wouldn’t feel as bad as I feel. I think it was an accomplishment for this team to get to a bowl game.
“I just wish we could have performed better than we did.”