EL PASO — Throughout the season, No. 17 UCLA made a living with come-from-behind victories and the Bruins saved their all-time best for Friday's Sun Bowl.
After spotting Northwestern 22 first-quarter points, the Bruins scored 36 in succession en route to a 50-38 victory, their first bowl win in three seasons under Coach Karl Dorrell.
In finishing with 10 wins in a season for the seventh time ever, the Bruins (10-2) had to complete the largest comeback in school history, breaking the previous mark of 21 points, which was accomplished three times, including twice this year.
"We've responded well all season and this one was special because we played a great offensive football team," UCLA senior linebacker Justin London said about the Wildcats (7-5), who entered eighth in the nation in total offense. "After we got down, we knew that we had to contain their weapons and once we did, we were able to get our own offense back into the game and build some emotion."
Unlike their previous four comebacks from double-digit deficits this season, the Bruins found themselves in a hole because of mistakes made by their offense.
Senior quarterback Drew Olson, who threw only three interceptions during the regular season, got off to a horrible start Friday. He completed only two of 10 passes in the first quarter and two of his three interceptions were returned for touchdowns.
"I was shocked," Olson said about his first-quarter problems. "I just told myself that this can't be for real. But like I've done my whole career, I battled back."
Olson did just that with three touchdown passes, but he also had plenty of help, starting with backup running backs Chris Markey and Kahlil Bell, co-most valuable players of the game.
With starter Maurice Drew limited most of the afternoon because of a shoulder injury he suffered returning a first-quarter kickoff, Markey and Bell combined for 286 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
"When somebody goes down, the next man has to be ready to take over and do the job," said Markey, who finished with a game-high 161 yards in 24 carries. "The run game was our plan coming in and the O-line and [fullback] did a great job blocking for us."
The Wildcats, who have not won a bowl game since 1949, jumped ahead early with a field goal and a great effort by defensive lineman Kevin Mims. On the play, Mims avoided a cut block by UCLA tackle Noah Sutherland and then intercepted and returned Olson's screen pass 30 yards for a touchdown to give Northwestern a 9-0 lead.
