UCLA vs. Nebraska: Bruins Dominate Second Half En Route to Victory in Lincoln
By Jack Crosby
Sep 14, 2013; Lincoln, NE, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley (17) runs away from Nebraska Cornhuskers defender Thad Randle (53) in the third quarter at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Saturday started out about as optimistic as you can get for the Nebraska Cornhuskers against UCLA. QB Taylor Martinez and WR Quincy Enunwa seemed to have a chemistry, after hooking up for two first half touchdowns, that the Bruins just couldn’t figure out. The Nebraska defense looked dominant. After scoring 21 points in the first half, it appeared that the Huskers were on their way to a convincing blowout of one of the Pac-12’s top programs at the moment.
Only problem was, they didn’t add to that point total in the second half at all, while QB Brett Hundley and the Bruins mightily added to their 10-point first half total.
Head coach Jim Mora and his squad went in at halftime and made the necessary adjustments to come out in the second half and cruise their way to a 41-21 victory on the road in Lincoln. After a sluggish first half performance, QB Brett Hundley look just like the Heisman contender that we were looking for.
Hundley fired three scores in the second half and finished the game 16-of-24 for 294 yards and three touchdowns. Receiver Shaquelle Evans led the way on the opposite end of those Hundley passes with 97 yards on 3 catches with a score. We also got another solid performance from running back Jordon James who racked up 105 yards on 22 carries.
However, one of the main storylines coming out of this game was a breakdown by the Nebraska defense yet again. After that first half in which they looked to have some of their flaws mastered, they were non-existent for the final 30 minutes of the game. Their secondary was not on time with virtually anything and they seemed bewildered at times.
But yet again, Jim Mora and the Bruins proved that they are a top contender in the nation, mostly due to the adjustments that they can make when they’re punched in the mouth.