TUCSON –
A streaker sprinted across the Arizona Stadium field with just four seconds left in the first half of UCLA’s nationally televised matchup with the Wildcats.
He was only partially exposed.
UCLA, on the other hand…
Facing an Arizona team that had just fired its head coach, that hadn’t had a lead in more than 300 minutes, that was 119th in the country in rushing yards, that was ranked 100th or worse in all four major defensive categories and that was 0-10 in its last 10 games against FBS opponents, the Bruins did not just make the Wildcats look good on Thursday night.
UCLA simply wilted into a corner and whimpered, save for a bench-clearing brawl between both teams while the streaker was being subdued, and the Bruins eventually succumbed to the woebegone Wildcats, 48-12, in front of an announced crowd of 45,565.
“Today it seemed like everybody didn’t come out with the same amount of intensity…as usual,” junior wide receiver Randall Carroll said. “That’s what happens. First six drives, they scored, and then the offense, we lost all momentum. I don’t think we were enthused as much as they were.”
It took a 42-7 deficit for UCLA to show some fight, and that was just the halftime score.
By then, the Wildcats (2-5, 1-4) had effectively knocked the Bruins out, and it lasted just one round.
On its first possession, Arizona simply danced down the field, as standout quarterback Nick Foles was his typical efficient self, completing 3-of-5 passes for 42 yards, including a four-yard touchdown pass to Juron Criner.
More surprising: the success of the Arizona running game.
The Wildcats gained 38 yards on two carries to open the game, gaining more than half of the team’s season average of 71.3 yards per game, before finishing with 254 yards rushing.
“We didn’t fit the runs right,” Tresey said. “We had enough people in the box to fit it. Obviously we didn’t fit it right. It got to the second level and third level and we missed tackles. You can’t give them a 25-yard run. God, I wish I had more answers.”
Coming out almost exclusively in the hurry-up offense, Arizona would not slow down, playing with raw emotion for interim head coach Tim Kish, promoted from co-defensive coordinator after last week’s firing of head coach Mike Stoops.
Benefitting from two UCLA fumbles, Arizona scored on its first six possessions, each drive spanning more than 59 yards as the Wildcats gained 416 first-half yards and averaged 8.2 yards per play. Coming into the game, Arizona had gained 416 yards in a game just twice, 417 against Northern Arizona in a 41-10 Week 1 win and 425 in a 48-41 loss to USC in Week 5.
Foles, who came into the game with the nation’s second-most passing yards, piled it on even as Arizona continued to build its lead. After missing the Wildcats’ 29-21 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl last season, Foles completed 26-of-39 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns, all three going to Criner.
With the UCLA secondary still bandaged – junior cornerback Sheldon Price was clearly hampered by a knee injury after missing two games and safeties Tony Dye (neck) and Alex Mascarenas (head) missed the game – Criner capitalized, catching 10 passes for 101 yards.
“We failed,” said junior middle linebacker Patrick Larimore, who had just two tackles. “Couldn’t stop anything they did. They were very ready for what we were doing. I don’t know what to say. We couldn’t stop s***. We came out flat and it started off downhill and we didn’t recover.”
UCLA, meanwhile, sagged after Arizona jumped to the ultra-quick 14-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game on a Ka’Deem Carey 18-yard touchdown run.
The Bruins (3-4, 2-2) responded with a 10-play, 73-yard drive – capped off by a Kevin Prince-to-Johnathan Franklin 16-yard touchdown connection on 4th-and-5 – but the momentum was short-lived.
After a 39-yard missed field goal attempt by Tyler Gonzalez midway through the second quarter capped off a five-play, 59-yard drive, the Bruins managed just 48 yards on their next 23 plays, spanning seven series.
“We need to come out strong and fast,” junior tight end Joseph Fauria said. “Arizona did that, and we need to do that on our side of the ball.”