UCLA GIVES ONE AWAY ARIZ. ST. 48, UCLA 42.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

TEMPE, Ariz. - There have been plenty of losses for Karl Dorrell in his short career as UCLA's coach, but none has left the stinging, sickening feeling that accompanied Saturday's meltdown, a 48-42 decision to No. 21 Arizona State.

There was no postgame posturing about this being the latest step in UCLA's growth process, and no silver linings were found in the cramped, somber locker room behind Sun Devil Stadium.

The Bruins blew a coverage in the closing minutes, Sun Devils receiver Terry Richardson blew past a linebacker and outraced safety Jarrad Page for a 65-yard touchdown, and UCLA blew an 11-point lead in a span of 1 minute, 45 seconds.

So, for the first time in Dorrell's two-year tenure, UCLA lost a game it should have won, and the melancholy mood afterward reflected that.

``We were in great position to win that football game, and we didn't hang on,'' Dorrell said. ``I'm disappointed. That's all I can say.''

UCLA (4-3, 2-2 Pac-10) has lost two in a row, surrendering 93 points and 1,086 yards in the process. ASU (6-1, 3-1) responded from its embarrassing loss last weekend at USC to remain in the conference race.

``This hurts,'' UCLA tight end Marcedes Lewis said. ``This really hurts. That's all I could say. This game meant a lot to us.''

UCLA's defense was despondent about allowing ASU quarterback Andrew Walter to throw for 415 yards and a career-high six touchdowns on just 25 completions as quick-strike scores replaced long drives.

Walter, who was intercepted three times, averaged 16.7 yards per completion. Derek Hagan had scoring catches of 79 (with linebackers Justin London and Spencer Havner colliding on a short completion) and 12 yards in the first half, and his 46-yarder with 6:36 to play kick-started ASU's comeback.

ASU scored six touchdowns, four on drives lasting less than a minute.

``It's ridiculous,'' Page said. ``It's just ridiculous. We can't do that. And it's like every one was on a damn third down. That makes it even worse. Third down, we have to make a play and get off the field.''

UCLA quarterback Drew Olson wasn't thinking about his 30 completions, or career-high 325 passing yards, or two touchdown passes, but rather his career-high four interceptions.

``I feel like I let the team down on four plays,'' Olson said. ``We win that game easily if we don't throw four interceptions. Those are all on me, 100 percent. I'll be critical of myself more than anybody, and it's a (terrible) feeling.''

After falling behind 14-3 and 21-10 in the first half, UCLA used a power running game and passing game to get the offense moving. Maurice Drew, Manuel White and Chris Markey had strong games, and Olson distributed the ball with his throws.

Tab Perry (66 yards) and Junior Taylor (63 yards) each had five catches, and tight end Marcedes Lewis made a spectacular one-handed touchdown catch with one of his four receptions as 10 Bruins caught passes.

After Perry's 9-yard scoring reception across the middle put UCLA ahead 42-31 with 7:12 to play, the Bruins imploded.

Thirty-six seconds later, Hagan scored on the 46-yard pass down the left sideline. The Sun Devils missed the two-point conversion, and UCLA, trying to protect a 42-37 lead on the ensuing possession, lost 7 yards and punted.

ASU took over on its 27, and Richardson scored on a third-down, 65- yard pass-and-run, beating coverage by linebacker Spencer Havner, then beating Page to the end zone with 4:51 remaining.

``We screwed up our cover,'' Havner said. ``I'm not supposed to cover that guy. But when it happens, we have to be able to cover that up.''

The call, made at the line of scrimmage, bewildered the strong and weak sides of the Bruins defense, leaving Havner to cover Richardson. Had Richardson run the prescribed route, he would have gone to the strong side, where a faster safety would have covered him.

``I could hear they were confused before the play,'' Richardson said. ``I knew once I got behind (Havner), I was gone.''

UCLA had two possessions in the final five minutes but couldn't score. The first finished with Olson's fourth interception, which Dale Robinson returned to the Bruins' 8-yard line. ASU turned it into a field goal for a 48-42 lead with 3:13 to play, and Olson had one more chance.

After taking the Bruins to ASU's 38 with just under two minutes to play, the offense faltered and turned the ball over on downs when Olson threw high to Perry at the right sideline with 1:26 left.

``We've got us a good team,'' Bruins offensive coordinator Tom Cable said. ``They just have to learn how to win.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

UCLA cornerback Matt Clark looks on in disgust after the Bruins fell Saturday at Arizona State.

Paul Connors/Associated Press