No. 25 UCLA dominated from the get-go in the electrified Rose Bowl. The Bruins received the ball to start the game and scored six touchdowns in the first 20 minutes, breaking open a 42-3 lead and leaving No. 24 Arizona stunned going into the locker room.
Redshirt senior running back Johnathan Franklin became UCLA’s all-time leading rusher on a 37-yard touchdown run on his third carry from scrimmage and added another touchdown in the second quarter. Franklin carried the ball 15 times for 109 yards in the first half.
Freshman quarterback Brett Hundley was responsible for three touchdowns of his own, scrambling to the pylon for one, finding freshman wide receiver Jordan Payton in the back of the end zone for another, and arcing the ball into redshirt senior wide receiver Joe Fauria’s hands on a goal line fade to close the half.
UCLA’s defense was equally dominant, holding Arizona’s spread offense ““ which was ranked first in the Pac-12 in total yards coming into the game ““ to just 70 yards in the first half.
The Bruins also recovered a fumble on a muffed punt by the Wildcats to set up another touchdown. The Wildcats made many of the same mistakes that have plagued the Bruins: missed tackles and poorly executed special teams plays to name a few.
Compiled by Jacob Ruffman, Bruin Sports senior staff