UCLA football leads UNLV 17-0 at halftime
True freshman Josh Rosen ended the first half against UNLV with a passing line of: 14 for 25 with 151 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions. (Austin Yu/Daily Bruin senior staff)
By Matt Joye
Sept. 12, 2015 8:59 p.m.
LAS VEGAS — It was a wild and awkward first half at Sam Boyd Stadium.
There were two muffed punts, a tackler lost his helmet on a fourth down conversion, a referee jumbled his words, and a couple snaps went over the quarterback’s head.
Amid all the chaos, UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen remained cool and collected, just like he did in his debut last week. Rosen finished the first half 14 for 25 with 151 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Behind Rosen’s strong first half, UCLA leads UNLV 17-0 at halftime.
The one touchdown pass that Rosen threw was seemingly the only flawless play in a messy first half. The true freshman zinged a 29-yard post route to senior wide receiver Jordan Payton for a touchdown on UCLA’s first drive.
After that, UCLA’s offense sputtered a bit. The Bruins averaged just 3.95 yards per carry for the rest of the first half and failed to convert on a key fourth-and-two play on the UNLV 30-yard line. Rosen even had a couple of errant passes that went above the head of his intended receivers.
If not for a pick-six by sophomore inside linebacker Kenny Young in the second quarter, UCLA’s halftime lead could be a mere 10-0 against a team that it was favored to beat by 30 points heading into the game.
Compiled by Matthew Joye, Bruin Sports senior staff.
