University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA
Brigham Young
No. 10 UCLA Edges No. 19 BYU, 24-23
September 20, 2015 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. - Paul Perkins rushed a career-high 219 yards on 26 carries to lead No. 10 UCLA past No. 19 BYU, 24-23, in a non-conference game Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA (3-0) overcame a 10-point fourth quarter deficit against BYU (2-1), turning to Perkins and running back Nate Starks, who had a game-winning three-yard touchdown run with 3:21 left in regulation. The Bruins' duo of running backs amassed 300 net rushing yards.
With BYU facing a 4th-and-7 situation from midfield and fewer than 70 seconds remaining, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack intercepted Tanner Mangum's pass to help seal the win.
Jack's fourth-down interception came after Starks had a remarkable offensive drive to help the Bruins take a 24-23 cushion. The sophomore running back yard back-to-back rushes of 31 and 22 yards to get UCLA to the seven-yard line. After a four-yard scamper, he punched the ball into the end zone from three yards out. Ka'imi Fairbairn's extra-point attempt was successful, snapping a 23-23 tie.
Both Perkins and Starks finished with career highs in both rushing yards and attempts. Starks netted 81 yards on seven carries, including the game-winning touchdown.
Mangum, BYU's freshman quarterback, finished with 244 yards in the air, completing 30 of 47 passes and one touchdown.
BYU led the host Bruins throughout most of Saturday night's contest, securing a 10-3 lead by halftime and pushing its advantage to 20-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Cougars registered three interceptions in the first half against UCLA freshman quarterback Josh Rosen, who finished with 106 passing yards (11 of 23) and one touchdown.
After a 45-yard field goal by BYU's Trevor Samson at the 13:47 mark in the final quarter made the score 20-10, the Bruins responded with a five-play, 68-yard drive. Payton caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Rosen, slicing UCLA's deficit to 20-17 with 12:16 left in regulation.
Samson kicked a 32-yard field goal for the Cougars with 5:39 to play in the game before UCLA began its game-winning drive.
BYU led UCLA throughout the first half, taking a 7-0 lead with 9:39 left in the first quarter on a seven-yard touchdown run by Adam Hine that capped an 11-play, 71-yard drive. Hine, a senior running back, finished with 149 yards on 23 carries.
UCLA got on the board with 13:38 left in the second quarter on a 35-yard field goal from Fairbairn.
BYU extended its advantage to 10-3 on Samson's 40-yard field goal at the 9:26 mark in the second quarter.
With the win on Saturday evening, UCLA has now won 14 of its last 15 non-conference matchups, including 11 straight since a loss to Baylor in the 2012 Holiday Bowl. Likewise, the Bruins have won all 12 regular-season non-conference games under head coach Jim Mora, currently in his fourth season at UCLA.
The Bruins will return to action at Arizona on Saturday, Sept. 26. Game time in Tucson, Ariz., is slated for 5 p.m. PT.
