Bruins clinch close win against Buffaloes in double overtime
Myles Jack gave UCLA a 31-14 lead with this three-yard touchdown plunge late in the third quarter. But the sophomore linebacker characterized the Bruins’ play as “ugly” for most of the day, as UCLA allowed Colorado to come back and send the game into overtime. (Katie Meyers/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Kevin Bowman
Oct. 25, 2014 7:00 p.m.
BOULDER, Colo. — UCLA might like to take its first and last offensive plays in Saturday’s 40-37 overtime win at Colorado, then forget about everything in between.
The Bruins’ first play was perfect.
Redshirt sophomore running back Paul Perkins took a handoff to the left, followed his blockers outside, then sprinted 92 yards down the sideline, winning a foot race with Colorado’s secondary for a touchdown.
The Bruins’ final play was equally as impressive, with redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley plunging up the middle, avoiding tackles and reaching the end zone to clinch the victory in double overtime.
The nearly-four hours that separated those two plays though could only be described as “ugly” by sophomore outside linebacker Myles Jack.
After jumping out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter and looking destined for a blow out, the Bruins instead relented.
Throughout the final three quarters of regulation, Colorado outplayed and outscored UCLA 31-14.
“I think we just have to learn to put our foot down on people,” Hundley said. “We got a pretty good lead starting out the game, but we have to learn as a team how to finish people off and not let them slowly stay in the game. We have to kill them right then and there.”
Instead of delivering the final blow, the Bruins seemed to relax.
Colorado scored on consecutive drives in the second quarter, then stripped Hundley and recovered the fumble on UCLA’s 32-yard line. The Buffaloes drove to the UCLA four-yard line and looked poised to make it a one-possession game before halftime, with just seconds left on the clock.
But a false start by right tackle Stephane Nembot led to 10-second runoff of the clock, allowing UCLA (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) to escape into the locker room at halftime, clinging to a 24-14 lead. Colorado (2-6, 0-5) was a flinch away from scoring on the drive and putting even more pressure on UCLA.
Whatever adjustments the Bruins made at halftime didn’t work. The Buffaloes continued to find success running the ball against a Bruin defense that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said was trying to eliminate Colorado’s passing game.
“They’re players on scholarship like us, and eventually they’re gonna catch a rhythm,” Jack said of UCLA’s inability to slow down Colorado’s offense.
That rhythm never stopped for the Buffaloes, who scored two fourth-quarter touchdown passes to draw within three before tying the game with a field goal with just 36 seconds remaining in regulation.
If not for the penalty at the end of the first half, Colorado likely would have been in the lead after that kick. Instead, the two teams headed to overtime.
After limiting Colorado to a field goal on the first possession of second overtime, Hundley carried the ball into the end zone for a touchdown and the win.
Fending off Colorado to secure the win showcased the same fortitude coach Jim Mora has praised this team for all season. But after close game after close game against teams that, on paper, the Bruins should be beating comfortably, Mora said his team needs to get in fewer situations which require resiliency.
“I think that the three worst words that you can use are ‘I got it’ or ‘I got them’ or ‘We got it,’” Mora said. “I think at times we fall into that trap (of letting teams back into games) and so the message to them was, ‘love the resilience, love the win, but we’ve got to move past that.’”
