Every UCLA football game, whether at the Rose Bowl or on the road, has so much more to it than a win or a loss. That’s why each postgame Monday, the Daily Bruin will break down the Bruins’ most recent game, outlining the good, the bad and the verdict for their performance.
This week, we take a closer look at UCLA’s 34-27 win on Thursday over Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
The Good: Defense in the Clutch
UCLA’s defense recorded six interceptions against Utah sophomore quarterback Travis Wilson, doubling his single-game season high from a Sept. 14 matchup against Oregon State. Five of the interceptions came during a second half in which the Utes only held the ball on nine separate occasions.
The final interception came with 16 seconds remaining in the game, when Wilson and the Utes were driving down the field, a mere 23 yards away from tying the game at 24. In the midst of a 43-yard return, freshman outside linebacker Myles Jack could have run that final pick back to widen the margin to two touchdowns, but slid at the urging of UCLA’s coaching staff to keep the ball in the Bruins’ hands as the clock reached triple zeros.
The Bruins allowed 288 yards through the air, a season-high, but made plays at the right time en route to securing their highest number of interceptions in a single game since 1987.
The Bad: Second-Half Offense
With turnovers comes the expectation of capitalizing off said turnovers. In the third quarter alone, the Bruins started three drives following an interception and scored just one field goal in return.
Heading into the game, UCLA owned a 62-0 scoring differential against opponents in the third quarter. Against the Utes however, the Bruins had their weakest third-quarter performance of the season, adding a mere field goal to bring the score to 24-17.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Brett Hundley, who passed for 175 yards and a touchdown in the first half, completed just five passes for 36 yards in the second half, missing on several throws, including a short sideline pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Devin Lucien.
The result was a game-tying interception for Utah on Hundley’s second pick of the season in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
The Bruin offense, which converted three of 11 third downs in the second half, benefited from a turnover-happy defense that gave the offense the ball back drive after drive.
“We had to make some stops,” said coach Jim Mora. “We were struggling offensively there for a good bit of the second half, and I think that’s the sign of a good football team. One side struggles a little bit, the other side picks up for them.”
The Verdict: Not Brilliant, But a Win
On a night when UCLA committed 13 penalties for 100 yards, threw a pick six and played without its starting running back for the entirety of the second half, it still won.
Unlike their 2011 performance, in which they compiled just 295 total yards, the Bruins fought and clawed their way to 405 yards and a Pac-12 South victory.
Even with temperatures in the 30s, even with 45,000 screaming Utah fans, they managed to get the job done and earn their first victory in Salt Lake City since the Ford administration.
UCLA had its lowest passing total of the season so far and failed to develop the same consistent run game from past victories, but managed to defeat the most prolific passing offense it faced all season.
“It wasn’t a beautiful thing offensively,” Mora said. “I think defensively we played very, very well, but I think there’s a lot we can learn offensively from what transpired.”
Player of the Game: RB Paul Perkins (RS Fr.)
While redshirt junior safety Anthony Jefferson led the defense with two interceptions and Hundley ignited a stagnant UCLA offense in order to score 10 fourth-quarter points, it was Perkins who had a breakout game with redshirt junior running back Jordon James nursing an ankle injury on the sideline.
Perkins finished with career-highs in both rushing and receiving yards, setting the Bruins up for their first touchdown to open the game with a 44-yard catch-and-run that was cut short just a yard shy of the end zone.
The continuation of this performance, which included better-than-average pass blocking, against California will be vital for UCLA, which could be without a “doubtful” Jordon James again for Saturday’s home game.
“He’s a slashing runner,” said Mora of Perkins. “He lowers his pad level. He gets skinny in the hole and he fights for some extra yards.”
Quote of the Week: Coach Jim Mora, on his team’s 13 penalties for 100 yards Thursday
“I told the guys after the game that we can be a really good team if we get out of our own way, and by that I mean the penalties. I’m a little befuddled.”
Compiled by Andrew Erickson, Bruin Sports senior staff.