TUCSON, Ariz. — A flurry of questions faced No. 9 UCLA (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) in the week leading up to Saturday’s game against Arizona. How would the defense cope with Arizona’s up-tempo offense after the loss of star junior linebacker Myles Jack? Would freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, playing before a tough crowd in his first-ever Pac-12 divisional game, recover from his poor showing last week against BYU?
The world asked, and the Bruins answered, silencing the raucous crowd and walking off into the Arizona night with a dominant 56-30 victory.
“We talked all week about being able to respond to hostile environments,” said coach Jim Mora. “(And) we thought our young guys responded well to the loss of a few key players.”
The Bruin offense powered the team, Rosen’s 284-yard, two-touchdown passing performance complemented by six rushing touchdowns – including three from redshirt junior running back Paul Perkins. The defense for its part hung on, coming up with three turnovers and holding the Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 Pac-12) at bay for as long as it mattered.
It was a game defined by composure – the Bruins exuded it, and the Wildcats seemingly had none. Time and time again, UCLA executed when it mattered most, in stark contrast to Arizona’s slurry of botched plays and missed opportunities.
Two moments, one early in each half, served as the night’s key inflection points.
The first came with the Bruins – down 7-0 after Arizona’s opening-possession touchdown – facing a third-and-nine from the Arizona 44. Rosen evaded pressure and saw open space ahead, scurrying forward and breaking a tackle to gain a first down that prolonged the drive. UCLA would score on that possession, as they would on all but one in the first half, en route to a commanding 42-14 lead.
“I thought it was really important to … get off on the right foot (on the first drive) and so I felt like … I really (had) to put my head down and fight to get that first down,” Rosen said.
The second moment took place seven minutes into the second half, with the score at 42-20 and the Wildcats three yards from the end zone. Arizona was surging; halftime adjustments baffled Rosen and the offense; and the Wildcat offense ran riot against the Bruin defense.
On first-and-goal, a botched snap – the second of the game – pushed the Wildcats back to the 20-yard line. Immediately afterwards, a holding penalty sent them back 10 more yards. Two unsuccessful plays later, the Wildcats were forced to settle for a field goal. Momentum dampened. On the ensuing Bruin possession, Rosen scrambled right and found senior wideout Jordan Payton for a 39-yard completion that reignited the offense, which would go on to score twice more in the half. Game over.
UCLA’s third-down performance, particularly in the first two quarters, was exemplary. The team was 11 for 15 on third downs overall, converting on seven of eight for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. It was a stark contrast from the team’s performance last week, a game in which they went zero for five before halftime.
“Your quarterback has to be pretty good to go 11 for 15 on third down,” offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone said. “(Rosen) held his water on third down, and that’s where I saw the difference this week (compared) to last week.”
UCLA answered the questions today, as it hopes to against Arizona State next week. There’s a long season ahead, riddled with tough opposition who won’t go down as easily as tonight’s; the Bruins will need every bit of composure they have to make it through alive.