This was Johnathan Franklin on his way to the first of six first-half touchdowns for UCLA. Photo by Andrew Fielding-US PRESSWIRE
Arizona’s week of excitement and anticipation came crashing down Saturday night at the Rose Bowl, as UCLA whipped the Wildcats 66-10.
The Bruins dominated from the opening possession, ending a five-game losing streak to UA.
Arizona falls to 5-4 overall and 2-4 in the Pac-12, but the major concerns are a possible head injury to quarterback Matt Scott and the health of linebacker Hank Hobson, who was taken off the field on a cart.
The Wildcats will try to get bowl eligible next Saturday with a Homecoming game vs. Colorado, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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Wide receiver Richard Morrison comes in at quarterback late in the game. He could be an option next week, depending on the status of Matt Scott.
But Morrison shows his rust at the position, fumbling a handoff exchange. UCLA would have added a score on a fumble return if Johnny Jackson hadn’t tracked down a Bruins lineman from behind.
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Now, it’s 66-10 with 5:47 to play. That marks the most points ever scored against Arizona in a Pac-12 game. The previous record was 63, set by Oregon in 2001.
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It really no longer matters, but, for the record, UCLA scores again. It’s 59-10.
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Arizona sophomore Hank Hobson has been down on the field for several minutes, and is now taken off the field, immobilized, on a cart. He took on a block early in the play and then collapsed at the end while trying to pursue. There is 12:55 left in the game.
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Offensive lineman Chris Putton leaves for the locker room early in the fourth quarter. No word on the potential injury.
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With about 20 minutes left in the game, it appears Ka’Deem Carey’s night is done, too. No need to expose him to injury. Depending on Matt Scott’s health, Carey might have to carry the load next week vs. Colorado.
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Matt Scott leaving the field. Pac-12 Network announcers say that the trainers took away his helmet, and that Scott was having trouble focusing and answering questions on the sideline. Another week of concussion talk?
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It keeps getting worse for Arizona. QB Matt Scott appears to hit is head on the knee of UCLA defensive end Datone Jones while being taken down from behind after a throw. This time, it might really be a concussion. He’s out of the game with 6:23 to go in the third quarter.
Backup quarterback B.J. Denker is in … and wastes no time in losing a fumble while scrambling.
One play after that, UCLA’s Brett Hundley throws a 28-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Fauria for a 52-10 lead.
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Ka’Deem Carey goes airborne on a 2-yard dive to score Arizona’s first touchdown of the night with 7:18 to play. That was Carey’s 13th rushing touchdown of the season, tying him with Nic Grigsby (2008) for third on the UA’s single-season list.
UCLA leads 45-10.
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UCLA has 431 total yards with 9:58 to go in the third quarter, and the Bruins have pushed their lead to 45-3 with a 25-yard field goal. The Bruins can pretty much do whatever they want. QB Brett Hundley is 19 of 22 for 224 yards, with 15 consecutive completions. UCLA has rushed for 207 yards.
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This might become relevant: The most points ever allowed by Arizona in a Pac-12 game is 63. That was against Oregon in 2001. Truly, a Mackovic-ian effort.
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Halftime. An incredibly disappointing effort in all phases for Arizona.
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This should be a fun locker room at halftime. UCLA scores. Again. With less than a minute before halftime. RichRod has his frown-y face on. Bruins lead 42-3. On the plus side, you now have the rest of your night free.
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So we just chalk this up to one of those nights?
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It’s too easy for UCLA. The Bruins are more determined than, say Washington and USC were, to run the ball right at the Wildcats. It’s working. UCLA is dominating the line of scrimmage, Arizona’s tackling is the worst it has been all season, and the Johnathan Franklin scores on a 2-yard run for a 35-3 lead with 3:07 left in the second quarter.
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Surprised RichRod didn’t go for it on fourth-and-5 from the UCLA 10, but Arizona does get on the board with a 27-yard field goal from John Bonano. So that’s something. UA down 28-3 with 6:47 to go before half.
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Kyle Quinn didn’t start but he’s now at center for Arizona. He misses three full games because of an ankle injury.
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Arizona’s defense is a mess, letting receiver Jerry Johnson run free across the field. He makes the catch, breaks a couple of tackles down to the 1-yard line after a 46-yard gain. Damien Thigpen takes it in for the touchdown and a 28-0 lead (!) with 11:14 to play before halftime.
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This sums up Arizona’s night: After the defense finally makes a stop, Richard Morrison fumbles the punt catch and gives the ball right back to the Bruins.
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This sums up Arizona’s defense so far: After a sack by Marquis Flowers puts UCLA on third-and-17 from the 1, the Bruins convert with a pass over the middle to tight end Joseph Fauria.
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Arizona forced to punt and the first quarter ends with the UCLA up 21-0.
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RichRod goes for it on fourth-and-1 from the UA 34 with just less than two minutes to go in opening quarter. Ka’Deem Carey converts with a 3-yard run up the middle. A big play for so early in the game.
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Arizona is still looking for its first first down, while UCLA has scored three times and is up 21-0 with 3:31 in the quarter. The Bruins went 85 yards for their latest TD, capped by a 17-yard pass from Brett Hundley to Jordan Payton.
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Lots of football left but “L.A. Nights” looking a lot like “Eugene Nights” so far for #ArizonaWildcats.
— Scott Terrell (@Scott_Terrell) November 4, 2012
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The bad start has gotten worse. UCLA takes advantage of the fine field position following the bad punt and finishes off a 34-yard drive with a nifty change-of-direction run from QB Brett Hundley. Arizona is down 14-0 with 9:48 to go in the opening quarter.
Arizona was down 14-0 to Oklahoma State, and was down 15 points in the third quarter against USC … and it still won both games. His team has “no panic,” Rich Rodriguez says.
We’ll see if the Cats can stay cool and climb back tonight.
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Arizona starts its game on offense with a three-and-out. And then Kyle Dugandzic shanks a punt for 19 yards. Brilliant analysis here: NOT the start UA wanted.
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Oregon finishes off USC 62-51 in a wild game from Los Angeles. That means that as Arizona takes the ball for the first time tonight, it controls its destiny in the Pac-12 South. Win four consecutive games, and the Cats will be headed to the conference title game.
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UCLA senior Johnathan Franklin gets the school career rushing record and a 37-yard touchdown on the first possession of the game. He has really excelled this season in the spread offense of coordinator Noel Mazzone, which has given Franklin more space to use his cuts and speed.
The Bruins lead 7-0 with 12:27 to go in the first quarter.
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Shaq Richardson is back as a starting cornerback after giving way to Derrick Rainey in the past two games.
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UCLA won the toss and will receive. Let the shootout begin!
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Nick Foles’ Pac-12 record of 930 completions lasted about 11 months. USC’s Matt Barkley broke it on the Trojans’ first possession today against Oregon.
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Arizona will be wearing white helmets, white jerseys and red pants.
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Getting closer to kickoff for the Arizona-UCLA game from the Rose Bowl tonight. Here are several Bruins to watch, and some pregame links to help get you ready:
RB Johnathan Franklin — It is almost certainly going to be a special night for the senior, who needs just 21 rushing yards to break the school career record of 3,731 held by Gaston Green. He will be looking for his first big game against Arizona, however; he has rushed for only 91 yards on 28 carries in three previous meetings against the Wildcats.
TE Joseph Fauria — As we know, Arizona has had trouble defending the tight end, and here comes Fauria. “Where do all these tight ends come from?” said coach Rich Rodriguez. “These 6-8, 250-pound athletic tight ends?” Fauria (6-7, 255) is technically a “Y receiver” in UCLA’s scheme, but he’s a tough matchup by any name. Six of his 22 catches have gone for touchdowns.
WR Devin Fuller — Name familiar? He was one of Arizona’s top quarterback targets last winter, but he ended up signing with UCLA. Coach Jim Mora recently decided to pull him out of his redshirt season and use his athleticism at receiver (and he also was used as a punt returner last week). Fuller is getting more comfortable in the offense, catching a 15-yard touchdown pass last week when he beat the defender inside after a nifty fake to the outside.
QB Brett Hundley — The redshirt freshman from Chandler has completed 186 of 280 passes for 2,190 yards, with 18 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He can gain big chunks of yards on the ground, either by design or on scrambles. “I remember when he came out of high school,” Rodriguez said. “I knew this guy was going to have great success no matter where he went.”
OLB Anthony Barr — The junior, converted from a running back/receiver in the spring, has been a revelation on defense. He is 6-4, 235 and gets to be in attack mode off the edge in UCLA’s 3-4 defense. “Here we go, another tall, athletic guy,” Rodriguez said. “I think he’s a phenomenal player. He’s fast off the edge. You’ve got to have great technique (against him). He gets by a lot of tackles with his athleticism and speed. If you don’t have good technique, if you don’t set right, if you don’t have proper footwork, he’ll embarrass you.” Barr has 12 tackles for loss, including 8.5 sacks.
FS Tevin McDonald — The sophomore is one of the top young defenders in the league. We’ll see if he keeps a cooler head — and doesn’t target Arizona quarterback Matt Scott’s head — as much as his older brother, USC’s T.J. McDonald, did last week in Tucson.
LB Eric Kendricks — Another talented sophomore for UCLA with good bloodlines. His older brother, Mychal Kendricks, was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year last season as a linebacker at Cal. Eric had a career-high 17 tackles last week at Arizona State and has a team-high 74 stops.
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Preview: Resilient Wildcats set for key key game against UCLA
Arizona’s Tevis, after ‘excruciating’ injury, puts best foot forward again
Arizona’s injury report: Looking good for Kyle Quinn
Javier Morales at WildAboutAZCats.net has pregame notes, including a look at top NFL prospects in the game.
L.A. Daily News: UCLA coach Mora heaps praise on Arizona’s Matt Scott