For a few moments, it looked like the UCLA football team had found its old stride. By halftime, the Bruins reminded everyone why the second half of their season will have lowered expectations.
UCLA (3-4, 1-3 Pac-10) trails No. 15 Arizona (6-1, 3-1) just 19-7 at the half in Pasadena, despite the Wildcats’ 374 total yards of offense.
The Bruins followed up an early Wildcats score with a touchdown on their own first possession. The 11-yard run by junior running back Derrick Coleman was reminiscent of those long lost times when UCLA was a ground game powerhouse, like earlier in the season against Houston (266 rush yards), Texas (264), or Washington State (437).
But that was about it in the first half for the UCLA offense, with just 104 total yards. After completing his first three passes, sophomore quarterback Richard Brehaut went 1-for-7 with an interception. He has 38 yards passing. This is Brehaut’s third start of the season, but his first since Kevin Prince’s season ending surgery secured him the position.
Redshirt sophomore tailback Johnathan Franklin leads the Bruins with 40 rush yards, while wideout Taylor Embree has caught two passes for 23 yards.
Arizona has scored on four of its six possessions, but has had to settle for field goals on two of those drives.
Wildcat quarterback Matt Scott, filling in for the injured Nick Foles, has 227 yards passing. A 41-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Juron Criner on the team’s first series was particularly impressive.