UCLA vs. Utah: live game updates

UCLA 21, Utah 14 (final)

The Bruins improved to 5-2 overall, 2-2 in conference play with the 21-14 victory over the Utes, bouncing back from being routed by California last week.

Utah dropped to 2-4 overall, 0-2 in Pac-12 play, despite a solid performance by first-time-starter Travis Wilson, a freshman quarterback from San Clemente High.

UCLA 21, Utah 14 ( 3:16 left in fourth quarter)

Hats off to Utah for staying in the game.

Quarterback Jon Hays, who lost his starting job to freshman Travis Wilson this week, just took his first snap of the game and threw a one-yard scoring pass to Dres Anderson on fourth-and-goal play.

Hays was forced into the game because of a new NCAA rule that says any player whose helmet comes off during a play must come out of the game for at least one play.

Wilson’s helmet came off on a quarterback sneak that brought the ball to the one.

So a tip of the hat to Hays for keeping his cool and making an accurate toss coming in stone cold.

The play capped an 11-play, 90-yard scoring drive in which Wilson starred. He completed four of seven passes for 62 yards on the march, and was on the receiving end of a 23-yard gain on a flea-flicker play.

UCLA 21, Utah 7 (6:04 left in third quarter)

The Bruins suddenly resembled a school-yard offense, but it worked.

Quarterback Brett Hundley turned go-nowhere plays into progress with scrambles. He picked up a first down with a six-yard run, then ran for 18 and nine yards on scrambles to keep the drive alive.

Johnathan Franklin later went six yards on a fourth-and-one play at the Utah 13-yard line before he scored on a three-yard run.

UCLA 14, Utah 7 (halftime)

Exciting it wasn’t.

But UCLA should be perfectly happy with its milquetoast display during the first half against Utah on Saturday at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins took a 14-7 lead into halftime, with the only play that really increased pulse rates being the touchdown UCLA gave away.

Steven Manfro muffed a punt on the three-yard line and Utah’s Ryan Lacy recovered the ball in the end zone. That tied the score, 7-7, with 4 minutes 43 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Bruins’ offense was solely generated by quarterback Brett Hundley, who alternated completing key passes to Shaquelle Evans and Joseph Fauria.

Fauria made a key third-down catch, where he side-stepped one defender and hurdled another to get the first down at the Utah 30. Four plays later, Hundley faked to Jordan James and sprinted 12 yards up the middle to give UCLA a 7-0 lead with 5:36 left in the first quarter.

Evans had four receptions for 91 yards. Hundley found Evans alone down the sideline for a 64-yard touchdown pass and a 14-7 lead with 3:24 left in the first quarter.

Hundley completed nine of 12 passes for 141 yards in the half.

Both teams meandered through the second quarter, seemingly content to play a field-position game. Utah had a go-to excuse by starting true freshman Travis Wilson at quarterback.

Wilson, a standout at San Clemente High, labored at times during the half. He completed nine of 15 passes for 80 yards. He also threw into double coverage in the first quarter. The ball was tipped and UCLA safety Andrew Abbott intercepted.

UCLA 14, Utah 7 (3:24 left in first quarter)

The Bruins answer back.

Quarterback Brett Hundley rolled right, flipped a pass to a wide-open Shaquelle Evans, who was in full stride down the sideline. The scoring play covered 64 yards.

After misfiring on his first pass of the game, Hundley has completed seven consecutive throws for 105 yards.

UCLA 7, Utah 7 (4:43 left in first quarter)

The Bruins handed a touchdown to the Utes.

Steven Manfro tried to field Sean Sellwood’s 65-yard punt inside the five-yard line. The ball bounced off his hands and Utah’s Ryan Lacy recovered it in the end zone.

UCLA 7, Utah 0 (5:36 left in first quarter)

The Bruins carved out a 69-yard touchdown drive, with quarterback Brett Hundley going 12 yards for the score.

The Bruins were three for three on third downs during the drive, though they were aided by a Utah penalty. On a third-and-eight play, Hundley completed a seven-yard pass to Shaquelle Evans. But Utah’s Joe Kruger was offside on the play. Hundley completed a five-yard pass to Evans on the ensuing play for the first down.

Hundley completed all four of his passes on the drive, including a 12-yard, third-down completion to Joseph Fauria, who leaped over a defender to get the first down.

Pregame

Utah will start freshman Travis Wilson at quarterback today against UCLA in at Pac-12 Conference game at the Rose Bowl.

It is the first start for Wilson, who was a standout at San Clemente High. He came off the bench in the fourth quarter against USC last week and drove the Utes to a touchdown in a 38-28 loss. Wilson completed four of six passes for 49 yards.

Jordan Wynn, the Utes’ starter, was forced to retire from football after suffering a fourth shoulder injury. Jon Hays has been Utah’s started the last four games.

ALSO:

Handicapping the season’s first BCS standings

College football Saturday: The games to watch on TV

It’s Louisiana Tech’s turn to try to crack the BCS elitism