Alamo Bowl game report: No. 14 UCLA 40, No. 11 Kansas State 35
First quarter
Key play: Brett Hundley scored on a 28-yard keeper on fourth and 3, putting UCLA ahead 17-0.
Key stat: UCLA outgained K-State 218-38 in total yards.
Second quarter
Key play: Myles Jack intercepted a pass from Jake Waters while K-State was attempting to rally from a 17-6 deficit. UCLA scored on the ensuing drive for a 24-6 lead.
Key stat: Waters threw an interception and lost a fumble, while UCLA did not turn the ball over.
Third quarter
Key play: Ryan Mueller forced a fumble, and Dakorey Johnson recovered it, setting up K-State with field position that it turned into a touchdown to make the score 31-21.
Key stat: K-State possessed the ball for 12:49.
Fourth quarter
Key Play: Paul Perkins broke free for a 67-yard touchdown for UCLA, putting K-State’s comeback hopes all but out of reach.
Key stat: UCLA scored its only touchdown of the second half.
Player of the game: UCLA running back Paul Perkins did in K-State with long runs. He finished with 194 yards in 20 carries.
Reason to hope: K-State won nine games and will likely finish the season ranked in the top 20.
Reason to mope: Jake Waters, Tyler Lockett, Curry Sexton, B.J. Finney, Ryan Mueller and Jonathan Truman are all done with their eligibility. That is a tough senior group to replace.
Looking ahead: K-State will head into the offseason searching for new starters at several positions, but the expectations won’t change. The Wildcats will once again say their goal is winning a Big 12 championship.
Report card
B | Offense | The final numbers, especially passing, look good. But two turnovers and a dropped touchdown pass in the first half hurt the Wildcats. So did a nonexistent running game. |
C | Defense | UCLA gashed K-State in the running game and picked up first downs in difficult situations far too often. An improved second half doesn’t change that. |
A | Special teams | Matthew McCrane made field goals from long range, and Tyler Lockett had several quality returns. |
B | Coaching | Bill Snyder deserves credit for convincing his team a second-half rally was within reach, but UCLA started the game with a much better strategy. |
To reach Kellis Robinett, send email to krobinett@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @KellisRobinett.
This story was originally published January 2, 2015 at 11:39 PM with the headline "Alamo Bowl game report: No. 14 UCLA 40, No. 11 Kansas State 35."