Colorado vs. UCLA: Score, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

The Colorado Buffaloes (4-5) nearly earned their first road win over a ranked team in 13 years Saturday afternoon, but the No. 24 UCLA Bruins (6-2) withstood the Buffaloes' second-half push to emerge with a 35-31 win at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA led 21-6 at halftime and appeared to be on its way to a comfortable win a week after smoking Jared Goff and the California Golden Bears, 40-24. 

However, the Buffaloes' 43rd-ranked offense kept the Bruins defense on its heels. Colorado ran 114 plays, and as ESPN.com's Ted Miller observed, UCLA appeared to be winded down the stretch as Colorado attempted to take the lead with time ticking away: 

According to Bleacher Report's Brian Pedersen, Colorado tied the FBS record for offensive plays in a game. 

Colorado torched UCLA with its multipronged rushing attack throughout the afternoon, and the Bruins didn't have an answer as the Buffaloes mounted a second-half charge. Colorado outscored UCLA 25-14 in the second half, including a 15-point explosion in the fourth quarter.

Colorado rushed for 242 yards, including 100 from Patrick Carr, 62 from Donovan Lee and another 45 from quarterback Sefo Liufau, who also threw for 312 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Carr punched in a go-ahead touchdown run with just over 12 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, per the Pac-12 Networks on Twitter, but UCLA responded minutes later:

Quarterback Josh Rosen marched the Bruins 69 yards down the field in just 27 seconds to help give UCLA a four-point lead with 8:28 remaining in the contest, but as Bleacher Report's Bryan Fischer explained, the quick strike wasn't ideal, given the time-of-possession disparity: 

UCLA escaped with the win, but the way Colorado dominated the clock wasn't inspiring for a UCLA team that entered Saturday afternoon ranked 69th in yards allowed per game (397.0). When all was said and done, Colorado (36:25) nearly doubled UCLA's (18:55) time of possession.

SB Nation's Bill Connelly provided a graphic representation of Colorado's statistical domination: 

Despite the outrageous discrepancy, Rosen and the Bruins stood tall. The freshman completed 19 of 33 passes for 262 yards and a touchdown, marking the second straight game in which he didn't toss an interception. Rosen has also thrown for at least 250 yards in five straight contests.

Running back Paul Perkins added 12 carries for 118 yards, 82 of which came on a second-quarter touchdown rumble, per the Pac-12 Networks: 

As the Bruins displayed Saturday, they have the offensive talent to give opponents fits. The task for Rosen, Perkins and receivers such as Jordan Payton and Thomas Duarte moving forward will be controlling the clock enough to give the defense breathers. 

A winnable matchup with Oregon State awaits, but Saturday showed UCLA can't take any Pac-12 foe for granted, according to the Orange County Register's Ryan Kartje:

"

Whether UCLA wins this game or not, it's pretty clear that the Bruins are completely worn down. Game in Corvallis next week could be a trap.

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) October 31, 2015"

It will be difficult for fans in Boulder, Colorado, to find sources of optimism. After opening the season 3-1, the Buffaloes have dropped four of their last five, with the lone win in that stretch coming over the Beavers. 

Colorado remained competitive against Oregon, Arizona, Hawaii and UCLA, but as ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg noted, that may not be enough:

Considering that the remainder of Colorado's regular-season schedule includes meetings with Stanford, USC, Washington State and Utah, Saturday may have represented the Buffaloes' last chance at a victory this season.

Post-Game Reaction

One of UCLA's key defensive cogs explained how the defense was able to survive against a Colorado offense that seemingly never left the field, per Pac-12 Networks: 

Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News relayed Mora's thoughts about his team's defense, as well as a take from a Bruins defensive lineman: 

"That was about a gritty a win as I’ve ever been around," head coach Jim Mora said, per the Daily Bruin's Claire Fahy. "It was one of the most rewarding wins as I’ve been here, three and a half years."