With 10 minutes to go in the half the Aztec's capitalized on an ill timed handling error as the ball reached the far wing.  Alex Ross who was storming up in defense found himself on the receiving side of this an errant knock on and raced 55 meters to tie the game at 7-7.  UCLA refused to fold though and regrouped to put together another nice series of possessions leading up to another try in the corner.  With only a few seconds remaining a penalty kick that was rewarded by the touch judges was overruled by the referee leaving the Aztec's with their first deficit of the season at half time 12-7.

 

Stressing game pattern and intensity Coach Payne regrouped the side at the half time break urging them to play our pattern.  Unfortunately, the second half meant that the Aztec squad would have to come from behind into the building breeze.  To make matters worse UCLA struck first raising the margin to 19-7 with 30 minutes to go. 

 

From that point on though it was all Aztec's.  Sticking to their pattern of strong forward movement and tieing up defenders the Aztec's were able to develop gaps in the defense of UCLA that the loose forwards and backs took extreme advantage of.  Four trys were rolled in after the first ten minutes to bring the final score to 32-19. 

 

UCLA is a big physical team that gave it their all.  Once the Aztec team took the lead though they were all in the end zone with their heads down knowing the inevitable.  Defense and consistency to the pattern described the play in the second half and the Aztec's walked away with a hard fought victory. 

 

Superior back play by Alex Ross and Alex Lichtig and star performances by forwards Ryan Howe and Joe Fontana should be commended on the day.