On a day that UCLA needed a spark, an exemplary effort, a smile, walk-on wide receiver Christian Pabico delivered on all counts.
His value to the Bruins went beyond the obvious, that his first career touchdown reception became their second score in a 31-14 victory over Oregon on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, or that his 49-yard reception on a third-down play in the third quarter sustained the drive that was capped by Bolu Olorunfunmi’s vault off a defender and into the end zone.
What magnified the impact of Pabico’s four-catch, 99-yard, one-touchdown effort in UCLA’s best all-around effort this season is that his teammates and coaches knew how hard he has worked to be here.