About five minutes before UCLA’s 20-17 win over Texas on Saturday, true freshman Jaleel Wadood found out he was getting his first start.
The Bruins were already missing safety Randall Goforth, who injured his shoulder a week ago, forcing sophomore Tahaan Goodman into the first-string lineup. Then, senior safety Anthony Jefferson tweaked his ankle during pregame warmups.
Wadood heard his name called. Continue reading “Freshman safety Jaleel Wadood shines in first start for UCLA” »
Without quarterback Brett Hundley, the UCLA offense leaned on another Chandler High product: running back Paul Perkins.
Fresh off career highs in last weekend’s win against Memphis, the redshirt sophomore churned out a career-high 126 yards on 24 carries Saturday in UCLA’s 20-17 victory over Texas — the first triple-digit game of his career.
Perkins, who grew up with Hundley in Arizona, had cleared the 90-yard mark in three of his last 12 games. He also broke out a career-long 58-yard run at AT&T Stadium, one that helped set up backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel’s three-yard touchdown pass to fullback Nate Iese.
“I was just having fun out there,” Perkins said. Continue reading “UCLA’s Paul Perkins runs for career-high 126 yards in Texas” »
It was almost too perfect.
Three decades after his father led UCLA to the Rose Bowl, Jerry Neuheisel’s dreams came true. In three-plus quarters of injury relief for Brett Hundley, the redshirt sophomore completed 23 of his 30 passes for 178 yards — guiding the Bruins to a 20-17 win over Texas at AT&T Stadium.
And of course, the coup de grâce: his 33-yard pass to Jordan Payton for the game-winning touchdown.
Back at the Pac-12 Networks in San Francisco, Rick Neuheisel watched the whole thing.
After starting quarterback Brett Hundley injured his left elbow in the first quarter, UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone dialed back the playbook. He opened it up at the perfect moment.
He called for receiver Jordan Payton to make a double-move down the left sideline. Backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel saw the cornerback’s eyes, pump-faked, and threw a 33-yard dime for the go-ahead score. Bruins 20, Longhorns 17.
“It was kind of right on the tip of my tongue for two drives,” Mazzone said. I was kind of just waiting for the right time. … They started playing a little man (coverage), and I thought, ‘Hey, if we’re going to take a shot, this is how we’re going to take a shot with them.'”
UCLA receiver Jordan Payton had four catches in UCLA’s 20-17 win over Texas on Saturday at AT&T Stadium, but none was more important than his 33-yard touchdown grab to win the game.
What was his exchange like with quarterback Jerry Neuheisel? “I love you.”