Rose Bowl curse still in effect for the Dawgs

Washington has suffered some heart-breaking losses this season, but Saturday's may have hurt the worst as they fell to UCLA in the Rose Bowl 24-23, extending their losing streak to three and falling to 3-6 on the season.

UCLA lost starting QB Kevin Prince in the second quarter, but rallied behind a game Kevin Craft who completed 10 of 14 passes for 159 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Washington squandered big performances by RB Chris Polk (132 yards rushing) and WR Jermaine Kearse (seven receptions for 114 yards and two scores) as well as five turnovers caused by the defense and special teams, to lose their third-straight game.

The Bruins scored on their opening drive of the game, marching 88 yards in nine plays, ending when Prince hit TE Cory Harkey from the one. Washington had actually done what they could to stymie UCLA early in the drive, but Prince was able to find TE Logan Paulsen for a 56-yard completion to set up the touchdown.

Washington did manage to answer on their next drive as QB Jake Locker was able to find Kearse for the first of their two hookups from 17 yards out. Kearse managed to fight off two Bruin defensive backs in the endzone for the score.

Washington then notched the first of their five turnovers, when S Nate Fellner recovered WR Terrence Austin's fumble at the UCLA 30.

Five plays later, Washington settled for a 30-yard field goal by Erik Folk, giving them a 10-7 lead.

However, Prince was able to come right back leading the Bruins 95 yards on 11 plays and getting a one-yard Chane Moline touchdown to put UCLA back on top 14-10.

After two more Folk field goals, Prince appeared to be leading UCLA to another score when he scampered out of the pocket and was drilled by Husky LB Donald Butler who was penalized 15 yards for a helmet-to-helmet hit.

Freshman QB Richard Brehaut then came in and was sacked by Washington DE Daniel Te'o-Nesheim who stripped the ball and DT DeShon Matthews was able to recover sending the Huskies into the locker room with a 16-14 lead.

Both teams looked shaky at times in the second half, but Washington was able to get their second touchdown of the day as Kearse made a great catch in the back of the endzone for a 34-yard touchdown from Locker.

However, Craft was able to mount a short scoring drive after Austin's 59-yard kickoff return, getting a controversial 29-yard touchdown reception by a diving Austin from the Washington 29.

Replays appeared to show the ball hit the ground and bounced up in the air falling back into the arms or Austin, but UCLA was able to run their extra-point unit onto the field before the Huskies could call time out to challenge the play, resulting in UCLA pulling to within two.

In the fourth quarter, ULCA K Kai Forbath notched the only points of the half, a 28-yarder resulting in the final score of 24-23, but Washington had a chance late, driving to the Bruin 46 with :54 seconds left, but Locker was picked off by S Rahim Moore at the UCLA 19 on a poorly thrown pass to Kearse down the sidelines and UCLA was able to run out the clock giving them their first Pac 10 win of the season.

Washington heads on the road again next weekend as they head to Corvalis, Or. to take on Oregon State with the hopes of keeping their bowl hopes alive.