According to Chris Foster, the reporter on the scene, a UCLA spokesman says that Hundley’s return to the game is probable. It’s the end of the first quarter, and Texas has the ball in its own half of the field. Offensively, this game has benn less than appealing.
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A FOX sideline reporter says that UCLA trainers are rubbing some sort of something on Brett Hundley’s left elbow, and are asking him to open and close his fist. It’s his non-throwing arm, so we’ll see if he comes back in this game. I don’t need to tell you how important he is to this UCLA team, though.
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UCLA 3, Texas 0 (0:37 left in the first quarter)
We’re getting Jerry Neuheisel in at quarterback, as Brett Hundley is now sitting on the bench. Hundley was scrambling to avoid a sack, and appeared to land awkwardly on his left elbow after being tackled.
With the redshirt sophomore in at quarterback for the potential Heisman candidate, UCLA leaned on its running backs. Paul Perkins and Jordon James received carry after carry. When Neuheisel was given his first chance to throw something other than a screen in the flat, he was sacked for a nine-yard loss.
Despite the sack, Ka’imi Fairbairn converted a 47-yard field goal to finish the drive with the first points of the game. It was Fairbairn’s first field goal of the season.
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The Bruins started their second drive of the game on their own 10-yard line, and that drive almost ended as soon as I finished typing this sentence. Brett Hundley was almost sacked on third down, but did a great job of keeping his balance to scramble for the first down. Myles Jack entered the game at running back, gained three yards, but was then was stuffed behind the line of scrimmage on his next carry.
On third down, Hundley fired a beautiful pass to a streaking Jordan Payton for a 50-yard gain, but another UCLA penalty nullified a big play. Starting tackle Caleb Benenoch wasn’t flush with the other lineman, and the illegal formation penalty called back the big gain.
Trying to convert another third-down penalty, Hundley appeared to injury his left elbow on a scramble. He’s sitting near the sideline, and we might be seeing backup Jerry Neuheisel.
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Texas is converting just 23% of its third downs this season, but picked up one on its first opportunity tonight. UCLA stayed solid, though, and the Longhorns are punting. There was a good showing from the UCLA defensive line, as Eddie Vanderdoes picked up a sack with the Longhorns driving down the field.
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First play of the game is a 12-yard pass from quarterback Brett Hundley. The quarterback then ripped off a 31-yard run, but it was called back because of a facemask penalty on offensive tackle Malcolm Bunche. Running back Paul Perkins made up for it the next play, though, with a 23-yard reception. Hundley was then sacked, and the Bruins couldn’t find another big play to get a fresh set of downs.
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During the pregame interview, UCLA coach Jim Mora said, “When you’re playing a team like Texas, you have to put it all together.” The Bruins won the toss, and chose to defer. Texas decided to kick, which is weird. Might have been a mistake by the captains, as UCLA will also begin the second half with the ball. We’ll see if the Bruins can put it all together, starting with the offense.
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UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks said AT&T in Arlington, the site of tonight’s UCLA-Texas game, is the best NFL stadium that there is.
Agree or disagree?
I visited CenturyLink Field in Seattle earlier in the summer, and I think that has to be up there.
I would also listen to arguments for the Superdome in New Orleans. I will not listen to arguments for whatever the Raiders are now calling their stadium.
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Might be time to forget about that sellout. Columnist Bill Plaschke is also on scene, and he says that there are still many empty seats in the stadium with 15 minutes until kickoff. He also heard that tickets to the game were going for half price.
That’s a little surprising, but considering that both these teams have underperformed in the first two weeks of the season — though UCLA is 2-0 — maybe it’s just a slow-arriving crowd.
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One of the FOX pregame show talking heads just predicted that Myles Jack will get more than 12 carries in this game. I can’t see any possible situation in which that happens, but I guess we’ll see.
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Another interesting subplot has to do with UCLA coach Jim Mora. He was reportedly offered the head coaching job at Texas after last season, but turned it down to stay in Westwood.
The Longhorns eventually went with Charlie Strong, who has made quite a splash in his initial season. The former Louisville coach has been suspending and dismissing players left and right, and Texas got blown out at home last week by Brigham Young, 41-7.
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Welcome to the UCLA Now’s live blog for the UCLA football team’s tilt against Texas. The game is on Fox (Channel 11 in Los Angeles), and since Gus Johnson is announcing, I highly suggest tuning in (as well as getting some analysis and updates on this live blog, of course).
Texas is dealing with a littany of injuries, which is a big reason why UCLA is the favorite despite being on the road. The Longhorns are starting their backup quarterback, Tyrone Swoopes, but because he’s a dangerous runner he could still pose a threat for the Bruins defensive line. Here’s a blog from earlier on that topic, as well as a post about the defense in general.
According to reporter Chris Foster, who is in Arlington, the pregame scene inside of AT&T Stadium feels like a bowl game. Both schools brought at least a portion of their bands, cheerleaders, and mascots for what is expected to be a sold-out game.
Not surprisingly, starting safety Randall Goforth isn’t dressed. He’s not playing after suffering a shoulder injury last week against Memphis, and will likely be replaced in the starting lineup by sophomore Tahaan Goodman. Also not in uniform is cornerback Marcus Rios, who has had the flu all week.
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