Two seasons ago, then-sophomore quarterback Richard Brehaut was knocked out of the UCLA v. University of Washington game in Seattle with a blow to the head.
With then-redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Prince already ruled out, the Bruins’ final option at signal-caller was then-sophomore Darius Bell.
Bell had a less than memorable debut under center, completing only one of three pass attempts ““ but the completion was to the wrong team. His interception was returned for a touchdown that proved to be the final blow to the Bruins as they went on to lose 24-7.
Nowadays, he doesn’t line up in the backfield. Instead, he can be seen as a Y receiver where he caught the first touchdown pass of his career. Early in the second quarter, Bell caught a perfect pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Brett Hundley over his shoulder to put the Bruins up two scores.
“It’s my first one catching one. It’s a good feeling. It’s a little different playing quarterback ““ you get used to it after a while,” Bell said. “But being on the receiving end was a good feeling for me.”
Bell stated that having played quarterback helped smooth his transition to receiver, as he had to understand how to read the defense and running routes takes the same philosophy.
But when asked whether he ever imagined himself catching touchdowns ““ after transferring to UCLA from City College of San Francisco and being recruited as a quarterback ““ he said with a laugh, “Not in a million years.”
Holmes solves the case
Junior outside linebacker Jordan Zumwalt did not travel with UCLA as he was ruled out with injuries sustained from a motorized scooter accident.
In his stead was redshirt senior Damien Holmes, who typically starts at middle linebacker. Holmes was initially converted to outside linebacker after being a defensive end throughout his UCLA career, and shifted once again to the middle early this season.
“I played (defensive end) before, which is a similar view to outside linebacker,” Holmes said, “But wherever they put me, I’m going to do it to the best of my ability.”
And that he sure did. Holmes had one of his best games in a Bruin uniform, record blood, with a 12-yard run for a touchdown by Hundley.
Redshirt junior receiver Darius Bell added in another score early in the second quarter and after Hundley’s second keeper for a touchdown, the Bruins headed into the tunnels at halftime up 21-7.
After the opening kickoff of the second half, the Bruin offense once again had issues but was jumpstarted by its defense.
Midway through the third quarter, Colorado quarterback Jordan Webb completed a pass to tight end Vincent Hobbs who had beat UCLA freshman cornerback Randall Goforth for a gain of 31 yards.
However, redshirt sophomore safety Tevin McDonald chased down Hobbs and punched the ball out, forcing a fumble that the Bruins recovered.
The UCLA offense capitalized on that turnover with an eventual touchdown pass from Hundley to redshirt senior receiver Joseph Fauria.
The defense didn’t stop making plays there. On Colorado’s very next possession, junior safety Stan McKay intercepted a Webb pass that was tipped by redshirt sophomore linebacker Eric Kendricks.
And again, the Bruins’ offense took the field and finished their defense’s work with redshirt sophomore running back Jordon James carrying the ball untouched 25 yards into the end zone.
“That was big time. Our defense has been doing a great job on (forcing) turnovers,” Hundley said. “Just getting the ball on those extra possessions helps so much.”
For insurance, the Bruins put the game well out of reach with redshirt junior running back Damien Thigpen’s touchdown on a 23-yard reverse that put the team up 42-7 early in the fourth quarter.
Hundley had a better showing against Colorado after a rough performance last week. The quarterback was played a part in four of the touchdowns the Bruins scored against the Buffaloes.
“Every week he does a couple things he didn’t do well last week, better this week,” offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said. “It’s going to be a process through the whole season. I like the way he’s starting to feel comfortable with some of the things we’re doing offensively.”
But the improvements and the win for UCLA weren’t without a major loss. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Devin Lucien was seen on the sidelines in warmups and a sling during the game.
“We don’t have a definitive prognosis but it looks like he broke his clavicle,” Mora said. “We’ll do X-rays and evaluate it from there and then we’ll see what we have to do from there.”