BYU Cougars at UCLA Bruins Second Half Game Thread

The UCLA Bruins head into the 2nd half against the BYU Cougars with the score 10-3 in favor of BYU.

First Quarter

The Bruins received the opening kickoff and started things with a 3-and-out punctuated by a borderline drop on 3rd and 7 by Jordan Payton. The defense struggled to get off the field on their first drive, Kenny Young also got himself ejected by going after Tanner Magnum's head after Magnum slid to give himself up on a sack. Pretty typical type of play for the UCLA Bruins. Those "aggressive penalties" shouldn't happen.

The Cougars preceded to drive down field and take a 7-0 lead on a short TD run by Adam Hine. On the kickoff, BYU surprised everyone with an onside kick that was initially ruled to be BYU's ball and was upheld on review.

BYU, aided by a couple penalties seemed to be driving again, but a holding penalty on BYU, a huge sack by Aaron Wallace and a TFL by Takkarist McKinley got UCLA's defense off the field with a punt.

The offense got into a groove on the next drive after a 44-yard run by Paul Perkins and another nice run by Nathan Starks to get the Bruins into the redzone. But that was cut short after a mistake by Josh Rosen on a play where he was forced out of the pocket and tried to throw a pass late over the middle while under pressure that was intercepted .

The defense escaped unscathed after another sack by Isaako Savaiinaea and a huge hit on 3rd down on Magnum by McKinley. UCLA's offense went 3-and-out afterr a punt and gave BYU the ball right back.

Another 44-yard run by Paul Perkins got UCLA in position to score once again to end the 1st quarter.

Second Quarter

The drive ended with a devastating hit on Rosen on 3rd down, followed by a 35-yard FG by Ka'imi Fairbairn to make the score 7-3.

Punts by both teams got UCLA's offense the ball again, but a pressure by BYU rushed a throw by Josh Rosen, which was to Jordan Payton and tipped into the air and intercepted by Harvey Langi.

Put the defense in a tough spot with the ball already on BYU's side of the field, got off the field right away, BYU boots a 40-yard field goal to stretch their lead to 10-3.

After a couple of near disasters (a fumble by Soso Jamabo that was recovered by Jake Brendel and a near interception by Josh Rosen on 3rd down), UCLA punted back to BYU. Taylor Lagace gifted the Cougars 15 yards on a kick-catch interference penalty, but the defense got off the field without allowing any points, thanks to a big 4th down stop.

UCLA got the ball in a 2-minute situation and Paul Perkins picked up chunks of yards, helped along by Thomas Duarte's first reception of the night and a physical run after the catch by Jordan Payton to get about 15 yards. The drive ended on a 3rd and 6 where Josh Rosen was forced out of the pocket and once again threw late across his body and it was intercepted by sucker punch extraordinaire Kai Nacua.

UCLA heads into the 2nd half down 10-3 to the BYU Cougars.

Listen in at the link below and let's hope the Bruins can deliver a more competent offensive performance in the 2nd half.