Countless football players sparked their passion for the game in the backyard.
And many have carried the playful and childlike sentiment of backyard ball into their professional careers.
UCLA football (3-7, 3-4 Big Ten) had its bowl game aspirations dashed after suffering its seventh loss of the season to Ohio State on Nov. 15. With two games left on the 2025 slate, interim head coach Tim Skipper’s squad will embrace its love for the childhood game when it faces Washington (7-3, 4-3) at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, a contest that is ostensibly meaningless for the Bruins.
Despite being out of bowl game contention, the Bruins’ football passion is guiding them toward the 2025 finish line.
“This is the game we love,” said redshirt junior tight end Jack Pedersen. “I always think of it as … a children’s game. We’re just big kids playing the kids’ game. There’s lines and a ball, and we just need to have fun and stay motivated.”
UCLA accumulated a 27-point deficit before the first half’s conclusion against No. 1 Ohio State last weekend in a must-win game to maintain bowl eligibility. Although the Buckeyes essentially diminished the Bruins’ winter football hopes in just the first frame, the Westwood bunch responded in the second half.
Senior defensive analyst and defensive playcaller Kevin Coyle’s defensive unit limited the Buckeyes’ staunch offense – which averages 37.5 points per contest – to just 14 points throughout the second half, excluding defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr.’s 100-yard kickoff return touchdown to end the third quarter. The Bruins’ offense also posted its only 10 points of the game in the second half.
Skipper said the Bruins maintained their energy heading into the second frame at Ohio Stadium despite the hefty deficit, and he added that his players still have faith they can finish the season strong.
“Even in the locker room after the game, they were really good, and we had a team meeting last night and just were focused on finishing the season right,” Skipper said. “Everybody knows you’re measured when you’re dealing with adversity. We’re going to attack the situation.”
But regardless of passion, backyard football requires skill, and the most athletic often dominate the gridiron.
Washington boasts a dynamic offense that relies on its outside speed to beat opposing defenses.
Quarterback Demond Williams Jr., wide receiver Denzel Boston and running back Jonah Coleman headline an elusive attacking unit that can beat defenders through the air and on the ground. The Huskies’ offensive arsenal ranks fifth in the Big Ten in both points per game and yards per affair, with 34.3 and 426.5, respectively.
But Washington’s X-factor is Williams, with his unique speed under center paired with his reliable arm. The signal-caller has rushed for 512 yards and boasts a 72.6% completion clip.
“The quarterback is so dynamic,” Skipper said. “When they throw the ball, it’s like us when Nico’s rolling. You have to be prepared to contain the quarterback.”
Dual-threat quarterbacks have plagued UCLA throughout the 2025 campaign, and the team’s front seven has been exploited by opposing field generals’ improvisation in the pocket.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier, whose skillset mirrors Williams’, notched 87 rushing yards and one touchdown against UCLA on Aug. 30, topping off a performance where Utah recorded 286 rushing yards.
Improvising is foundational to any backyard football game, particularly given the game’s loose parameters.
And that is where Williams excels.
“They have a lot of extended plays with the quarterback they have,” said redshirt senior defensive back Key Lawrence. “He’s a shorter guy, so he’s trying to get out of the pocket a lot.”
Simplifying the game is often a recipe for success in football.
And the UCLA players are applying their shared childhood passion to the end of the 2025 campaign while embracing the adversity that seemingly inconsequential matchups entail.
“We all are just here to play football because we like football,” said redshirt senior defensive lineman Keanu Williams. “Coach Skip’s message: ‘We can’t just give up and throw in the towel.’ This is not the hardest thing we’re about to do in life. When it comes to just football, we got to finish this thing out.”
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