Pasadena, Ca – It’s late in the game, the Bruins are down by 6 points, and your star running back Paul Perkins is winded, so you insert Nate Starks into the back field. This allowed for a fresh Starks to be on field and not let BYU substitute fresh tacklers if Perkins needed a breather. It only took the Bruins 2:13 and 7 plays to go 80 yards capping the drive with a Starks 3 yard touchdown to tied game 23-23, before Ka’imi Fairbairn nailed the extra point for the lead.
The #10 ranked Bruins overcame a sub par performance to beat the #19 ranked BYU Cougars 24-23. Even though the Cougars had the ball and time on the clock to try a Hail Mary for the third game in row, it just didn’t have the story book ending. On 4th & 7, with 58 seconds to go on the UCLA 42 yard line, linebacker Myles Jack came down with the interception to secure the one point victory.
Before that last throw BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum completed 30/47 passes for 244 yards to lead all passers in the game. Mangum, the 22 year old freshman smart play was almost enough for a win.
The UCLA game MVP and work horse was running back Perkins who carried the ball 26 times for 219 yards and a touchdown. Coach Mora said of Perkins, “He is just an incredible football player.” The last two games have been breakout games for Perkins the team quiet leader. This ground game helped the Bruins freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who threw three first half interceptions. It just wasn’t Rosen’s, night forcing throws and throwing back across the field late, which is huge no-no. “A game like this will teach Rosen a lot,” said Mora who spoke on his quarterback performance of 11/23 passing for 106 yards.
The Bruin defense stepped up big after bending but not breaking. UCLA was forced to insert linebacker Isaako Savaiinaea who finished with a game high 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks. This great performance came due to starter Kenny Young being flagged and ejected for the remainder of the game for targeting during BYU first offensives series.
These Bruins found a way to win and now are 3-0 going into next week as they prepare for Arizona in Tucson. This week expect practice to be turned up as they play their first Pac-12 team this year. The Wildcats were on fire tonight in their game, scoring 77 points on Northern Arizona University.
