The UCLA Bruins have had a problem on defense this year, and they offered little resistance to the Arizona Wildcats in the first quarter in Tucson on Thursday night. Arizona scored touchdowns on their first two drives, and lead the Bruins 14-7 after 15 minutes.
Down two touchdowns, the Bruins relied on Johnathan Franklin but not in the usual way. He rushed for 11 yards during the drive, but also caught two passes for 40 yards. The drive looked like it stalled when Derrick Coleman lost two yards on third-and-three from the 16, but rather than kick a field embattled goal coach Rick Neuheisel gambled, and the result was a play-action 16-yard pass to Franklin, the first touchdown catch of the season for the running back.
Arizona has lost eight straight games in conference play. Their last win came against UCLA last season at the Rose Bowl. UCLA is 3-3 on the season, but has allowed 32.2 points per game this season, including 25 or more in four of their six games.
Arizona took the opening kickoff and marched down the field 80 yards in eight plays for a quick 7-0 lead. The drive was marked by three big plays by the Wildcats: an 18-yard run by Daniel Jenkins, a 20-yard run by Keola Antolin two plays later, and the killer was a 26-yard strike from Nick Foles to wide receiver Dan Buckner on third-and-10 from the 30. The Wildcats were able to score one play later on a play-action pass to a wide-open Juron Criner for a four-yard touchdown.
On their second drive, the Wildcats drove 76 yards on 10 plays, culminating in an 18-yard touchdown run by Ka'Deem Carey, with Carey diving at the pilon at the front corner of the end zone.
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