PASADENA “”mdash; Kevin Prince walked off the Rose Bowl field to a chorus of boos from UCLA fans late in the first quarter of UCLA’s 49-20 loss to Texas on Saturday.
For the first time in a long time, the redshirt junior was leaving the field on his own power without the aid of the training staff. He was pulled from the game after his third interception with UCLA trailing 14-0.
Texas sophomore quarterback Case McCoy left the game through the Texas tunnel with his middle two fingers clenched against his thumb making the signature “horns” sign that was emulated by the large contingent of Longhorns fans in attendance.
McCoy had just won his first collegiate start, on the road, in convincing fashion. Prince may have lost the trust of the UCLA coaching staff forever. Prince completed just as many passes to Texas defenders as he did to his own receivers.
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel went with junior Richard Brehaut for the remainder of the game and said Brehaut “surged ahead” in the ongoing quarterback competition.
“I’m not going to second guess him,” Prince said of Neuheisel’s decision. “Obviously I want to be in the game and try to redeem myself but I can’t continue to inflict wounds on the team and expect to be in the game.”
Brehaut ““ despite constantly playing second fiddle to the healthy Prince ““ led an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive on his first series that seemed to give new life to the Bruins. Senior running back Derrick Coleman aided Brehaut by rushing for 42 yards on the drive.
“I kept my head up and I was ready to go in there if my name was called,” Brehaut said. “When it was, and I tried to do everything in my power to move the offense and to put points up.”
Tresey’s defense struggles again
Missed tackles and an inability to get off the field on third downs plagues defensive coordinator Joe Tresey’s defense in UCLA’s season opening loss to Houston and even its narrow Sept. 10 win over San Jose State. Those demons haunted the Bruins again Saturday as they missed numerous tackles.
“People need to be more physical with their tackling and need to finish plays,” sophomore defensive tackle Cassius Marsh said. “Everybody needs to do their assignment and that’s a team thing that we need to work on.”
The Longhorns were able to convert on nine of 15 third-down chances, not to mention the three offside penalties that helped to keep Texas drives alive.
Late in the second quarter, Texas was flagged for an illegal block on what would have been a first-down run on third and 10, forcing the Longhorns into third and 18. McCoy danced out of five tackles and completed a 25-yard pass that set up Texas’ fourth touchdown. Tresey, however, remains optimistic despite coaching a unit that has given up over 450 yards in two of its first three games.
“Come hell or high water, I’m convinced we’re going to be a good defense,” he said. “Our backs are against the wall and I’ve got faith in these guys. I may be the laughing stock of LA but I don’t care. These kids are going to fight.”
Locke-d up
After being the scapegoat and the hero in successive weeks, redshirt freshman kicker Kip Smith did not suit up on Saturday. Smith missed the game and the entire last week of practice because of a sore hip flexor.
Neuheisel added UCLA soccer manager Tyler Gonzalez to the roster for depth but decided to give Saturday’s place kicking duties to redshirt junior Jeff Locke. Locke normally handles punts and kickoffs and Neuheisel was weary of putting too much on his plate. If Saturday was any indication, Locke is hungry for more.
He was perfect on both of his field foal attempts, connecting from 49 and 51 yards on balls that looked to have plenty of air under them to keep traveling. Even Texas coach Mack Brown had to hand it to Locke as that was the only phase of the game in which Brown’s team was overmatched.
“They outplayed us in the kicking game, which we need to get better at, but all around I’m pleased,” Brown said.
[Updated at 8:43 p.m.:
Injuries
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Sean Sheller left the game with a broken right forearm. Redshirt junior cornerback Andrew Abbott was taken to Huntington Hospital and was treated for a concussion that he sustained on the aforementioned illegal block.]