PASADENA “”mdash; A lively shootout in the first half, which saw the teams combine for 705 yards, turned into a slower game in the second half.
Despite first-half defensive mistakes and an errant field goal kick in the second half, UCLA football left the Rose Bowl Saturday night with a 36-30 win over No. 16 Nebraska.
Both teams traded makes and miscues on field goals in the second half.
In the third quarter, UCLA shifted from kick formation ““ on what would have been a 36-yard try ““ to a passing play, but senior quarterback Richard Brehaut overthrew redshirt senior receiver Joseph Fauria and the Bruins turned the ball over on downs.
The Cornhuskers followed that with a miss from 37 yards by Brett Maher, who had been perfect kicking the ball up to that point.
Datone Jones swung the momentum of the game with a safety on a sack of Nebraska junior quarterback Taylor Martinez, which gave UCLA a 29-27 lead in the fourth quarter. The Bruins had a chance to extend their lead but freshman Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a 34-yard field goal with 6:49 left in the game.
However, with less than seven minutes left in the game, redshirt senior Andrew Abbott intercepted a Martinez pass. Abbott, who was shifted to safety this offseason, started at cornerback today in place of injured senior Sheldon Price.
The Bruins promptly capitalized on the turnover with a 9-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley to redshirt senior running back Johnathan Franklin. The touchdown pass ultimately sealed the game and the win for UCLA, pushing their record to 2-0 on the season.
Compiled by Ryan Menezes, Bruin Sports senior staff.