Paul Perkins moves into UCLA’s top 10 rushers
UCLA running back Paul Perkins stiff-arms his way out of the tackle attempt by Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III in the first half Saturday.
UCLA running back Paul Perkins continues to climb the charts.
Perkins began Saturday’s game against Arizona with 2,577 yards rushing, needing only seven to move into UCLA’s top 10. He got there on a four-yard run in the first quarter, moving ahead of Kevin Nelson (1980-83), who was 10th with 2,583 yards.
Chris Markey (2004-07) is ninth with 2,733 yards. Johnathan Franklin (2009-12) is UCLA’s leader with 4,403 yards.
Perkins’ rise is a matter of pride with the offensive linemen.
“Our running backs’ production and the offensive line’s production is the same thing,” center Jake Brendel said. “A running back is not going to run very well without a hole. There aren’t very many great running backs that have shined without good offensive linemen.”
A UCLA back has led the Pac-12 in rushing two of the last three seasons. Perkins had 1,575 yards last season. Franklin had 1,734 yards in 2012. Those are the top two single seasons in school history.
Perkins rates high with the linemen.
“Paul is always great about giving us credit,” Brendel said. “To have a running back who listens to his coach is just great.”
Perkins finished with 85 yards and three touchdowns.
Tough return
UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams played his first game of the season and Arizona wasted little time in going at him.
On the Wildcats’ first drive, receiver Nate Phillips beat Adams deep and hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass.
Adams missed the first three games after being arrested on suspicion of using force to take a cellphone from an Uber driver.
The Los Angeles County district attorney declined to file felony charges, but Adams could face misdemeanor charges.
Later in the quarter, Adams made a key open-field tackle on running back Nick Wilson on a third-and-four play. Adams dropped Wilson for no gain to force a punt.
UCLA then drove 50 yards for a touchdown.
Adams intercepted a pass in the second quarter, leading to a one-yard touchdown run by Perkins.
Lineup shifts
With linebacker Myles Jack and cornerback Fabian Moreau lost for the season, UCLA tinkered with its defensive personnel.
Jayon Brown started for Jack, who is out for the season after suffering a knee injury last week, but Brown left the game in the third quarter with what appeared to be a back injury. Tahaan Goodman started at safety and Randall Goforth moved to cornerback to replace Moreau. Moreau suffered a broken bone in his foot against Brigham Young last week and is out for the year.
Receivers Mossi Johnson and Jordan Lasley worked out with defensive backs before the game.
Johnson played on defense Saturday.
Key recoveries
UCLA linebacker Deon Hollins recovered two fumbles in the first half. Both were unforced errors and both led to touchdowns.
Hollins recovered a bad snap to give UCLA the ball on the 16-yard line in the first quarter. Arizona quarterback Anu Solomon dropped the ball after being clipped by running back Nick Wilson.
Hollins recovered at the Arizona 30-yard line in the second quarter.
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