Noel Mazzone calls plays from UCLA’s booth during bowl game

Before the start of Saturday’s Foster Farms Bowl, UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone was on the field, walking through lines of stretches and talking with players.

Less than two weeks ago, Mazzone had suffered what Coach Jim Mora characterized as a “serious” health issue. He missed multiple practices, and as recently as this week, Mora said he did not know whether Mazzone would make it to the game.

If he did, it was unknown if he would call the offense.

But doctors cleared Mazzone to fly, and he was able to call plays during the game.

Mazzone typically leads the offense from the field, but he coached from the booth Saturday.

His first play call was an end-around to Stephen Johnson III. It went for four yards.

Record watch

Coming into the game, receiver Jordan Payton was seven receptions shy of UCLA’s season reception record of 82, set by J.J. Stokes in 1993.

During the week, Payton made sure quarterback Josh Rosen knew exactly how many catches he needed.

“You guys know me, I’m always politicking and pushing things to Josh,” Payton said. “He’s very aware. I think we’ll do it. I think we’ll do it, hopefully.”

Entering the game, Payton was already the career receptions leader, and had caught a pass in 28 straight games.

Walker’s redemption

In September, before Rosen’s first game at UCLA, the quarterback admitted he was “incredibly nervous.”

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Nebraska defensive back Chris Jones intercepts a fourth-down pass intended for UCLA receiver Kenneth Walker III late in the fourth quarter of the Foster Farms Bowl on Saturday.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Nebraska linebacker Michael Rose-Ivey hits UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen as he delivers a fourth-down pass late in the game. The pass was intercepted in the end zone.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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UCLA kicker Ka’mi Fairbairn (15) watches a missed field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Bruins defensive back Adrius Pickett breaks up a pass intended for Cornhuskers receiver Jordan Westkamp.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Bruins running back Paul Perkins is brought down by the Nebraska defense in the third quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Cornhuskers running back Devin Ozigbo picks up yards against UCLA during a run in the third quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Nebraska receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. makes a one-handed catch for a touchdown against UCLA cornerback Ishmael Adams in the third quarter during the Foster Farms Bowl on Dec. 26.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Nebraska quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. fumbles the ball during a six-yard run in the second quarter. UCLA defensive back Jaleel Wadood would recover the ball.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Bruins running back Nate Starks beats Cornhuskers linebacker Dedrick Young on a 26-yard scoring pass play in the second quarter for a 21-7 lead.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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Bruins running back Paul Perkins fumbles the ball out of bounds after he’s tackled by Nebraska defensive back Antonio Reed in the first quarter.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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UCLA receiver Kenneth Walker III catches a 60-yard touchdown pass against Nebraska defensive back Chris Jones in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte is tackled at the one-yard line by Nebraska defensive back Nate Gerry on a 22-yard pass play to set up the Bruins’ first score.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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UCLA running back Paul Perkins crosses the goal line to open the scoring in the Foster Farms Bowl.

  (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

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Bruins running back Paul Perkins (24) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a touchdown against Nebraska in the first quarter Saturday.

  (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

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Bruins linebacker Aaron Wallace pressures Cornhuskers quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. during a pass attempt in the first half.

  (Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

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Bruins Coach Jim Mora gives encouragement to his players before playing Nebraska in the Foster Farms Bowl.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

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UCLA Coach Jim Mora greets a fan before the Foster Farms Bowl at Levi’s Stadium on Saturday.

  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

But once Rosen got the ball in his hands, he had settled down. On his first play against Virginia at the Rose Bow, he dropped back, stepped into a throw and delivered a perfect pass 55 yards downfield to receiver Kenneth Walker III.

Walker dropped it.

Had Walker caught the ball, he could have walked into the end zone. It would’ve been his longest reception of the season.

Instead he has languished this season. He finished the regular season with six receptions for 143 yards and no touchdowns.

In the second quarter Saturday, Rosen tried again.

Rosen faked to running back Paul Perkins, just like in the opener, stepped back and launched an arcing pass that hit Walker in stride. This time, his hands were true.

He caught it for a 60-yard touchdown, and a measure of redemption.

Honoring San Bernardino

The Bruins wore a patch on their helmets with the letters “SB” to honor San Bernardino following the mass shooting earlier this month.

UCLA has held its training camp at San Bernardino for the past four seasons.

zach.helfand@latimes.com