UCLA Football: Cal RB Shines After Switching Positions Vs Bruins

Your UCLA Bruins concluded their regular season in a disheartening fashion, succumbing to the Cal Golden Bears in a lopsided defeat Saturday, 33-7. The Bruins, fresh off a resounding victory against their cross-town rivals, the USC Trojans, stumbled against the Golden Bears, delivering a lackluster performance that fell far short of competitiveness.

In stark contrast to the previous week, where the Bruins showcased a stifling defense that allowed a mere three rushing yards, they failed to replicate that success against Cal. The Golden Bears capitalized on the opportunity, making the Bruins appear ordinary and themselves extraordinary. 

Sophomore running back Jaydn Ott emerged as a standout performer for Cal. He was seen everywhere on the field, including special teams, where he made a name for himself, returning one to the house for 100 yards. Ott usually is in the backfield, but to mix things up, the Golden Bears wanted to give the Bruins a different look, and it worked. 

“We know that Jaydn is an electric player. I give a lot of credit to our special team staff as well for getting it schemed up,” Wilcox said.

(per Justin Wilcox via The Associated Press)

Despite the Bruins' defensive prowess in the previous game, Ott proved to be a formidable force, excelling in the backfield and making an impact as a kick/punt returner. Although the Bruins' defense allowed 302 total yards and generated two turnovers, it wasn't sufficient to contain Ott and the relentless Cal offense.

Ott, who ran for 81 yards on 21 carries, faced a more resilient Bruins defense compared to previous weeks. Nonetheless, the Bruins' four turnovers and struggles on both ends of the field marred what was hoped to be a triumphant regular-season finale. 

The disappointing performance left the Bruins with a bitter conclusion to their Pac-12 play, providing ample room for reflection and improvement as they look ahead to future challenges.

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