UCLA
UNLV
No. 13 UCLA Downs UNLV, 37-3
September 13, 2015 | Football
LAS VEGAS - Paul Perkins rushed for 151 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead No. 13 UCLA past UNLV, 37-3, in the Bruins' first road game of the season Saturday evening at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Under fourth-year head coach Jim Mora, the Bruins (2-0) registered their 11th consecutive win away from the Rose Bowl, snapping the previous school record which had been set in 1997-98.
Perkins, UCLA's junior running back who finished as the game's leading rusher, carried the ball 18 times and caught two passes for 24 yards against UNLV (0-2). He reached the 100-yard rushing plateau for the eighth time in his career.
Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen completed 22 of 42 passes for 223 yards and one touchdown, helping the Bruins earn their 10th consecutive non-conference victory. The Bruins' true freshman signal caller has thrown for 574 yards through his first two collegiate starts.
UNLV completed just six of 23 pass attempts for 53 yards, avoiding a shutout by connecting on Nicolai Bornand's 32-yard field goal with 3:04 to play in the fourth quarter.
Featuring a balanced offensive attack, UCLA accrued 534 net yards, including 281 on the ground and 253 in the air. The Bruins finished with 26 first downs, holding UNLV to just 11.
Bruins' senior kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn successfully converted all three field goal attempts, connecting on kicks of 35, 34 and 42 yards.
Playing in mid-90 degree weather in Las Vegas, the Bruins controlled the game from the start, scoring a touchdown in the game's first three minutes and claiming a 17-0 lead by halftime.
Leading 10-0, UCLA pushed its lead to 17 points when linebacker Kenny Young had a 23-yard interception return for a touchdown at the 3:06 mark in the second quarter.
The Bruins took a 7-0 lead just two minutes and 24 seconds into the game. Rosen connected on a 29-yard touchdown reception to Jordan Payton, who finished with five receptions for a team-leading 70 yards. Payton has now caught at least one pass in a team-best 18 consecutive games.
On the Bruins' ensuing possession, Fairbairn nailed a 35-yard field goal to give UCLA a 10-0 lead with 8:22 to play in the opening quarter.
UCLA began its second half just as quickly as it started the opening quarter. Leading 17-0, the Bruins drove 65 yards in 10 plays, capped by a seven-yard rushing touchdown by Perkins to open a 24-point cushion.
Perkins found the end zone just six minutes later, breaking off a 56-yard touchdown run with 6:00 to play in the third quarter. The running back's second touchdown pushed UCLA ahead of UNLV, 31-0.
The Bruins closed the third quarter with Fairbairn's second field goal of the night, a 34-yarder that extended UCLA's advantage to 34-0. He also connected on a 42-yard field goal with 10:51 to play in the final quarter.
UCLA will return to action against BYU at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 19. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m. (PT).
