First of all, UCLA and Nebraska are very familiar with each other. Recently, both teams completed a home-and-home series. This is when a team plays against a certain team in two seasons. In one season, one team visits the other and vice versa. UCLA's and Nebraska's home-and-home series was done over the 2012 and 2013 football seasons. Overall, UCLA and Nebraska are tied in a 6-6 overall series.
In 2012, UCLA played against #16 Nebraska at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins defeated the Huskers 36-30, which propelled the Bruins into the national ranks for the first time since 2005. Brett Hundley led the Bruins with 305 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Taylor Martinez of Nebraska threw for 179 yards and had 1 interception.
In the two teams' last meeting in 2013, #16 UCLA traveled to #23 Nebraska. Earlier that week, UCLA walk-on wide receiver Nick Pasquale was killed by being run over by a car. Bruins dedicated this game to Pasquale, and as a matter fact, so did Nebraska. Before the game, a bunch of Nebraska student fans held up a big banner with a blue and gold Nebraska logo (which is just a big letter N). Next to it was "#36", Pasquale's jersey number. That was also in blue and gold. The two pictures below the post show the banners that Nebraska fans used.
Anyways, back to that game, Nebraska built a 21-3 lead in the first half. The halftime score was 21-10 Nebraska. Playing against teams with memorial games is usually a rough one, as UCLA proved in the second half. The Bruins' offense erupted as they scored 38 unanswered points. Brett Hundley led the way once again, as he completed passes to 11 different receivers. He threw for 294 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 41-21 victory against the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Last year, Nebraska had 9 wins and losses in former coach Bo Pelini's final year as a Husker coach. The Huskers barely lost to #24 USC in the Holiday Bowl 45-42. On Nebraska's final drive, the Huskers stalled around USC's 25-yard line on 4th down and 3.
UCLA went to the Alamo Bowl and defeated #11 Kansas State 40-35. UCLA had a 31-6 halftime lead before K-State started their comeback in the second half. With 2:40 left in the fourth quarter, running back Paul Perkins ran a 67-yard touchdown to make the score 40-28. The two-point conversion was no good. Kansas State responded with a long touchdown pass and cut the score to 40-35. The onside kick didn't work for K-State, which sealed the game and a 10-win season for UCLA.
In last year's Foster Farms Bowl, Stanford came off of shocking #8 UCLA 31-10 and cruised by Maryland 45-21. The Terrapins and the Cardinal were tied 7-7 in the first quarter, then Stanford started to roll up the points, scoring 35 unanswered points until Maryland scored on a kickoff return.
This season was wacky for both teams. UCLA was ranked #13 to start the season and won their first 4 games. The Bruins were ranked 7th in the nation before losing two straight against Arizona State and Stanford. The Bruins won three straight games after falling out of the top 25. They got back in at #19, but lost to Washington State 31-27 with 3 seconds left in the game. The Bruins fell out of the top 25 again, but shocked then-#13 Utah 17-9. They lost 40-21 to crosstown rival USC a week later.
Nebraska hired former Oregon State coach Mike Riley before the start of the season. Riley's debut as a Cornhusker was spoiled against BYU as Cougars quarterback Tanner Mangum threw a Hail Mary to shock Nebraska 33-28. Nebraska demolished South Alabama 48-9, and then failed a comeback as they lost to Miami 36-33 in overtime. They defeated Southern Mississippi 36-28 and then lost their first two conference games. They blew out Minnesota 48-25 to snap this streak, but only to form another losing streak. They barely lost to Northwestern (one of two teams that defeated Stanford this season) and then lost 55-45 to Purdue. With 6 losses and #7 Michigan State next, it seemed that hope was lost for a bowl game for Nebraska. Nonetheless, they wound up with their greatest game of the season. The Huskers trailed 38-26 late in the 4th quarter, but scored to cut the lead to 38-33. After an MSU punt, the Huskers hurried down the field, beating Michigan State 39-38 on a controversial call. Nebraska is the only team that defeated Michigan State (who is now in the College Football Playoff) this season. The Huskers beat Rutgers 31-14 and barely lost to #4 Iowa 28-20 in their regular season finale.
Key players:
UCLA Offense:
QB #3 Josh Rosen (Freshman)- 266/447 pass completions/attempts (60%), 3,351 yds, 20 TDs, 9 INTs
RB #24 Paul Perkins (Junior)- 225 rush attempts, 1,275 yds, 13 TDs
RB #1 Soso Jamabo (Freshman)- 66 rush attempts, 403 yds, 4 TDs
WR #9 Jordan Payton (Senior)- 75 receptions, 1,069 yds, 4 TDs
TE #18 Thomas Duarte (Junior)- 49 receptions, 820 yds, 10 TDs
C #54 Jake Brendel (Senior)
OL #74 Caleb Benenoch (Junior)
UCLA Defense:
DB #1 Ishmael Adams (Junior)- 30 tackles (17 solo tackles), 2 INTs, 109 INT return yds, 1 pick-6
DB #2 Jaleel Wadood (Sophomore)- 62 tackles (41 solo tackles), 2 INTs
DB #3 Randall Goforth (Junior)- 60 tackles (35 solo tackles), 2 INTs, 17 INT return yds
DB #9 Marcus Rios (Junior)- 46 tackles (27 solo tackles)
LB #12 Jayon Brown (Junior)- 87 tackles (55 solo tackles, leads team), 0.5 sacks
LB #58 Deon Hollins (Junior)- 18 tackles (9 solo tackles), 2.5 sacks
DL #97 Kenny Clark (Junior)- 63 tackles (39 solo tackles), 5 sacks, 1 receiving TD
UCLA Special Teams:
PK #15 Ka'imi Fairbairn (Senior)- 20/23 FGM/Att (87%), 44/44 XPM/Att (100%), 104 pts,
LNG 60 yd FG
P #19 Matt Mengel (Senior)- 50 punts, 1,996 yds, AVG 39.9 yds
Key UCLA Injuries:
DL #47 Eddie Vanderdoes (Junior) (injured during season-opening 34-16 win vs. Virginia)
DB #10 Fabian Moreau (Senior) (injured during 24-23 win vs. BYU, may return for bowl game, will return for next season)
LB #30 Myles Jack (Junior) (injured after 24-23 win vs. BYU, already going into 2016 NFL draft, predicted to go in first round)
WR/S #14 Mossi Johnson (Sophomore) (injured after 38-23 loss vs. Arizona State)
Nebraska Offense:
QB #4 Tommy Armstrong Jr. (Junior)- 210/383 pass comp./att. (55%), 2,856 yds, 21 TDs, 16 INTs
RB #32 Imani Cross (Senior)- 96 rush attempts, 389 yds, 5 TDs
RB #34 Terrell Newby (Junior)- 143 rush attempts, 743 yds, 5 TDs
WR #1 Jordan Westerkamp (Junior)- 63 receptions, 874 yds, 7 TDs
WR #87 Brandon Reilly (Junior)- 37 receptions, 716 yds, 4 TDs
Nebraska Defense:
DB #28 Byerson Cockrell (Senior)- 65 tackles (35 solo tackles)
S #25 Nate Gerry (Junior)- 75 tackles (46 solo tackles), 1 sack, 4 INTs, 90 INT return yards
LB #3 Marcus Newby (Sophomore)- 34 tackles (17 solo tackles)
Nebraska Special Teams:
PK #34 Drew Brown (Sophomore)- 20/26 FGM/Att (77%), 40/41 XPM/Att (98%), 100 pts,
LNG 50 yd FG
P #27 Sam Foltz (Junior)- 53 punts, 2,352 yds, AVG 44.4 yds
I'm sorry, but I don't know as many Nebraska players compared to UCLA players.
Statistically, UCLA has an advantage over Nebraska. Both teams average the same amount of points per game (32.5 PPG, T-45th in the nation). UCLA's offense produces 472.6 yards per game (24th) compared to Nebraska's 442.5 yards per game (37th). UCLA's defense allows 25.1 points per game (52nd) and 393.5 yards per game (62nd). Nebraska allows 27.8 points per game (T-75th) and 401.6 yards of offense per game (71st).
Both the Cornhuskers (5-7) and the Bruins (8-4) are familiar with each other. I am sure that this will be a wild game knowing that both of these teams play tough, despite UCLA's advantages. I hope that UCLA does win this game and gets their ninth win of the season. Gooooooooooo Bruins!!!!!!!!
Here are the banners that the classy Nebraska fans brought
to honor former UCLA walk-on wide receiver Nick Pasquale.
I wonder who thinks that Nebraska Cornhuskers fans are
the most classy fans around?
I think so.
No comments:
Post a Comment