Going into the locker room at halftime, UCLA quarterback Kevin Craft heard boos from the home crowd.
The junior college transfer had just thrown an interception ““ his fourth of the half ““ to Tennessee safety Nevin McKenzie, who returned it 61 yards for a touchdown, giving the Volunteers a 14-7 lead, and the Rose Bowl crowd was less than enthused.
Yet, one half and one overtime later, the same Craft who had drawn the ire of the Bruin faithful left to a chorus of cheers, the result of a 27-24 upset overtime victory over the No. 18 Volunteers.
Craft finished the game 25-of-41 for 259 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions. Yet the significance lay in Craft’s ability to overcome a shoddy first half and deliver a Bruin victory.
“(The coaches) just came in here and told me to settle down ““ don’t do anything aside from what out game plan was,” Craft said.
“Just take what they give us. The whole team told me that they got my back during halftime. That was comforting, and then we just got in a rhythm.”
Throughout the first half, Craft and the offense were unable to find that rhythm. On the first drive of the game, Craft started off well, completing four of his first five passes.
Then the wheels seemed to fall off.
On third-and-9 from the Tennessee 24-yard line, Craft overthrew his receiver, with the ball landing in Tennessee’s DeAngelo Willingham’s hands.
The interception would begin a 3-of-13 stretch in which Craft threw four interceptions, the last coming on McKenzie’s touchdown.
Yet coach Rick Neuheisel, who was quick to point out that he had four interceptions himself in his first start, was patient with his quarterback.
“He stayed in the present,” Neuheisel said. “The kids rallied around him and believed in him. You could see him grow in the second half.”
In the second half, Craft displayed the talent and the mettle that won him the starting quarterback job in training camp, completing 18-of-25 for 193 yards and a touchdown in the half.
Craft said his success came from simply taking what the defense was giving him, which were short passes as 15 of his 18 second-half completions were under 15 yards.
“I think the whole game, you’re just trying to find (your rhythm),” Craft said. “Came out in the first half, and I think I was forcing things. They were going too high, and in the second half, just settled down and taking what they were giving us.”
With the game on the line, Craft saved arguably his best drive for last. After Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty gave the Volunteers a 21-17 lead with 1:54 left in the fourth quarter, Craft took the field at his own 30-yard line with 1:50 left.
Craft took the Bruin offense 70 yards in nine plays, completing 6-of-8 passes for 68 yards, the final coming on a 3-yard pass to tight end Ryan Moya for a 24-21 lead.
“We’ve seen what he can do in practice,” said freshman wide receiver Taylor Embree, who caught four balls for 53 yards. “We know what he’s like. He’s our quarterback; he’s a great quarterback. When we’re in practice, he runs a two-minute drill like it’s nothing. So we know what he’s capable of. He’s our quarterback. You always believe in your quarterback.”
For Craft, overcoming a rough beginning to reach a victorious conclusion was simply just football.
“You never know when you’re winning or you’re losing,” Craft said. “You just got to keep playing hard all four quarters.”
INJURIES: The injury-plauged Bruins suffered a trio of injuries in the first quarter. Tight end Logan Paulsen suffered a fractured right foot, running back Kahlil Bell suffered a left ankle injury and was wearing a boot after the game, and wide receiver Marcus Everett suffered a dislocated toe on his right foot. There were no time tables on any of the injuries.