UCLA’s offense gained 116 yards in the first quarter alone. Sixty of those yards came on the ground. Those numbers are pretty impressive after last week’s struggle.
In UCLA’s only win this season the offense used tight end Ryan Moya very effectively. Moya just caught a pass over the middle for seven yards, short of a first down, but still enough to set up an easy field goal for kicker Kai Forbath. UCLA leads 10-7.
Another Bosworth goes down- defensive end Korey Bosworth is clutching his left hand in pain. His brother, linebacker Kyle Bosworth, is sitting this game out with a leg injury.
Aaron Ware misses a tackle and Fresno State’s Ryan Matthews scores on a 42-yard reverse play. Strangely, the Bulldogs went for two-points, fumbled, and now lead 13-10 instead of 14-10. They’ve scored on big plays at the start of both quarters.
UCLA answers. Terrence Austin returns Kevin Goessling’s weak kick for a 73-yard gain. The Bruins have the ball at the Fresno State 23 yard line.
Kahlil Bell bounces off two tackles and into the endzone. What a boost he’s provided in his first two quarters back. Kevin Craft sprinted over to congratulate Bell. Craft, too, is having a much better day than he has had since Tennessee.
Forbath’s point-after attempt was blocked- that’s the second kick he’s had blocked this season, and the third in his last five games (he had a kick blocked in the Las Vegas Bowl against BYU).
Another stop for the UCLA defense. Other than two big plays- Marlon Moore’s punt return and Ryan Matthews touchdown run- the Bulldogs have been fairly quiet.
UCLA chooses not to try on fourth down and one from the Fresno State 37. Surely the coaches thought field position was most important- but Aaron Perez’s punt sailed into the endzone, so there was only 17 yards difference.
Brian Price was injured, and layed on the ground for about a minute. UCLA trainers and both linebacker Reggie Carter and head coach Rick Neuheisel walked to check on Price, who is one of the defense’s most valued players.
UCLA center Micah Reed is down with what looks like a left leg injury. Reed injured that same leg at BYU and did not play last week against Arizona.
Craft danced around a little too much on play-action pass and his throw was intercepted. The play was called back though because of a personal foul, roughing the passer penalty on Fresno State’s Cornell Banks. UCLA is now in Kai Forbath’s field-goal range.
Kahlil Bell is stuffed on fourth and short, and UCLA gives up the ball at the Fresno State 17-yard line. The Bruins decided not to try a field goal that would have given them a 19-13 lead.
Brian Price is back in the game.
Fresno State tight end Bear Pascoe is starting to cause some problems for the UCLA defense; the Bulldogs have moved 79 yards and they have the ball at the UCLA four yard line. Pascoe has caught two passes on the drive.
Just after I type that last bullet, Bear Pasco catches a touchdown pass and Fresno State takes a 19-16 lead. The extra point is converted and Fresno State now leads 20-16.
So… did UCLA make the wrong decision when it tried for a first down on fourth and short at the Fresno State 17?
Terrence Austin has 139 yards on kick-returns this half, and don’t forget that his first return went for 100 yards before it was called back because of a holding penalty.
Ryan Moya caught two passes and UCLA has now moved into field-goal range. It’s funny because UCLA intended to run out the clock, but Fresno State called timeout to try to regain possession. Then UCLA decided to try to move down field. Forbath hit that field goal, too, so at half time it is Fresno State 20, UCLA 19.
UCLA had 246 yards of offense and 12 first downs this half.