UCLA vs. Nebraska First Half: The Solid Taylor Martinez Shows Up

Sep 14, 2013; Lincoln, NE, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora before the game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports

Last year’s game between the UCLA Bruins and the Nebraska Cornhuskers was an absolute shootout, with a final score of 36-30. Early on in that game, Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez wowed everyone with an electric 92-yard scoring run.

But as far as passing goes, Martinez was not so hot. With his passing ability being heavily scrutinized, he didn’t do much to help himself in that department as he threw no touchdown passes and one interception. He finished that game 17-of-31 for just 179 yards.

So far in this first half in Lincoln, it looks like an absolutely different Martinez out there as the Huskers lead the Bruins 21-10 at the half.

The senior QB is 11-of-16 for 116 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions to go along with those stats. Two of those strikes were to WR Quincy Enunwa–one capping off a 92-yard drive–and the other to Kenny Bell.

What may be more impressive than the performance of Martinez, however, may be the showing so far by the Nebraska defense. This unit gave up over 600 yards to the Bruins last year and failed to help their cause for optimism by giving up over 600 to Wyoming in Week 1.

Today though, this unit came to play. They’ve picked off UCLA QB Brett Hundley in the first quarter and have had some tight coverage on the Bruins’ wideouts. This crew has limited Hundley so far to just 8-of-16 passing for 153 yards and no scores.

At then end of the first half, however, the UCLA offense began to show signs of life as they marched down the field with a 59-yard drive, culminating in a Paul Perkins TD run from 10 yards out. That scoring play was set up earlier by a beautifully thrown ball on a wheel route down the sideline by Hundley–who, unfortunately for the Huskers, may be beginning to find his groove.