Big Plays For UCLA Helps Defeats Nebraska 36-30

Story by L.T.Willis

UCLA defeated Nebraska 36-30 to give their fans something
too cheer about. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The UCLA Bruins hosted The Nebraska Corn Huskers on a beautiful night at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, and gave their fans  plenty too cheer about as UCLA defeated Nebraska 36-0 under new head coach Jim Mora. The Bruins got on the board first when  Brett Hundley connected with Joseph  Fauria on twenty seven yard touchdown pass to give them a 7-0 lead. Nebraska responded when running back Ameer Abdullah scored from six yard out to tie the score 7-7. The Bruin's defense had Nebraska pinned back on their own eight yard line, when Nebraska's quarterback Taylor Martinez on a keeper ran for ninety two yards for a touchdown to give the Cornhuskers a 14-7 lead.

Nebraska's quarterback #3 Taylor Martinez runs 92 yards
for a touchdown against UCLA. Photo by Eric Wade/
T.G.Sports.

The Bruins kicked a thirty five yard field goal made by Ka'imi Fairbairn with 12:31 in the second quarter to trail Nebraska 14-10. The Bruins regain the lead when Hundley threw a four yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria, and now the Bruins led 17-14. This game was turning into a shoot out as Nebraska answer back to regain the lead with a seventeen yard run from running back Ameer Abdullah and now led 21-17. Moments later the Bruins' quarterback Brett Hundley threw a forty nine yard touchdown pass to Steven Manfro and UCLA was back in front 24-21. Before the half ended Nebraska's Brett Maher kicked a fifty four yard field goal end the half and tied the game 24-24.

UCLA's #17 Brett Hundley throws a 49 yard touchdown pass to tail back Steven
Manfro. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The UCLA Bruins and The Nebraska Cornhuskers were giving their fans their money worth as the Rose Bowl crowd seem mostly being in red, had the stadium rocking as the third quarter began. With 11:50 in the third quarter the Bruins scored first as Ka'imi Fairbairn kicked a twenty two yard field goal to break the tie and give UCLA a 27-24 lead. Nebraska answer back with 7:45 in the third quarter when Brett Maher kicked a forty three yard field goal and tied the game again 27-27 to end the third quarter. In the fourth quarter The Bruins' defense came up big  when defensive end Datone Jones sacked Nebraska's quarterback Taylor Martinez in their end zone for a safety for two points with 8:44 on the clock to give UCLA a 29-27 lead.

UCLA's defensive end # 56 Datone Jones sacks
Nebraska's quarterback # 3 Taylor Martinez for
a safety. Photo by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The Bruins fans were going crazy as this game may be coming down to who will have the ball last and score may win the game. UCLA offense struck again with 2:13 left in the fourth quarter as tail back Johnathan Franklin scored on a nine yard pass from Hundley to increase UCLA lead to 36-27. The Bruins defense came up big again by holding Nebraska to only a field goal by Brett Maher from fourty yards out with only 1:38 left in the game trailed UCLA 36-30. UCLA went on to defeat Nebraska 36-30 and let the Bruins fans know that football is back at UCLA.

UCLA's #23 Johnathan Franklin scores on a 9 yard
touchdown pass from Brett Hundley to seal
the game for the Bruins. Photo by
Eric Wade/T.G.Sports.

The most impressive thing about the game was the poise of UCLA's freshman quarterback Brett Hundley who had  a great game passing  was 21 for 33 for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns.  Senior receiver Joseph  Fauria had four catches for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nebraska's junior quarterback Taylor Martinez was 17 for 31 with 179 and no touchdowns. Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah carried the ball 16 times for 123 yards and 2 touchdowns. For more photos of this game go www.tgsportstv.com, click on photo gallery and scroll down to Nebraska @ UCLA. All photos are by Eric Wade/T.G.Sports and EW Gems Images.