UCLA is (8-4, 5-4 in Pac 12) will be playing in their 35th bowl game in program history.
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But the Huskers responded, scoring a pair of touchdowns in the final six and a half minutes of the second quarter. They then proceeded to march methodically down field aided by a 15 yard personal foul. To keep the Foster Farms Bowl competitive Nebraska will need to pressure Rosen and force UCLA to run the ball against the Blackshirts who surrender only 113 yards per game on the ground. Look for Josh “Hot Tub” Rosen to pick the Huskers apart and set up success for the ground game. UCLA’s alltime record vs. Big Ten teams (Nebraska 6-6; IL 6-6; Iowa 7-7, Maryland 1-1, MI 3-8, Mich. State 3-3, Minnesota 1-2, Northwestern 3-3, Ohio St. 4-4-1, Penn St. 4-2, Purdue 3-0-2, Wisconsin 7-4).
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The wisdom of head coach Todd Bowles’ postseason approach is no clearer than it is heading into Jets-Patriots at MetLife Stadium. Whether it’s Jackson, James White or LeGarrette Blount, the Jets need to do what they do best: make teams one dimensional.
Rosen was one of many UCLA players in pain after the game.
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But in the second half, he was just 7-for-26 passing and had an interception; Denver was shut out, and the Steelers came back. Following that outing, Denver will close the season with a division matchup taking on the struggling San Diego Chargers.
Rosen was 26 of 40 passing for 319 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, one coming in the end zone on fourth down late in he fourth quarter as he heaved up a prayer, but it went unanswered as UCLA finished the year with an 8-5 record after beginning the year 4-0. Nebraska is 5-7 overall, 6-6 against the spread and 7-5 with the over. The Huskers’ first drive resulted in a touchdown, too.
However, the Nebraska team that showed up against UCLA hadn’t shown up all season.
Going into the 2015 season, there were two questions facing UCLA football: who would replace Randy Hundley at quarterback and would Sean “P. Diddy” Combs be charged for swinging a kettlebell at members of the UCLA strength and conditioning staff in June? On the carry, Armstrong had his facemask pulled but no penalty was called and the ball was poked out for a fumble.
Paul Perkins, RB, UCLA: After three stellar seasons in Los Angeles, UCLA’s Paul Perkins will have to decide if he is ready for the National Football League or wants to come back for his senior season. Despite having no 100-yard rusher – Devine Ozigbo led Nebraska with 87 yards on 21 carries – Nebraska averaged 5.3 yards per carry and maintained possession of the ball for almost two-thirds of the game. After another stop by the Blackshirts, Armstrong and the Huskers went back to work. The latter score gave UCLA a 21-7 lead with 7:55 remaining. Bowling – This will be the third time a Bruin team has played in the Bay Area Bowl (2006 L Florida State, 2011 L Illinois). With his 44 receiving yards, Westerkamp increased his season receiving yardage total to 918 yards to rank third on the NU single season list. Neither team is where they thought they would be at the beginning of the season, as both have suffered unforeseen setbacks. Gerry added four, including a tackle for loss, in the first half alone for the Blackshirts. The Bruins came out with only:52 left in the half.
Highlight of the game: I was quite fond of this one-armed touchdown catch by Stanley Morgan that gave Nebraska its first lead of the game in the third quarter. The Blackshirts forced a three-and-out on the Bruins’ ensuing drive.
The Huskers will hit the practice field again on Thursday afternoon, following a morning tour of Alcatraz. Running back Imani Cross scored on a 1-yard run. Nebraska, on the other hand, is just happy to be here.
The Bruins scored twice more in the second quarter: on a 60-yard bomb to receiver Kenneth Walker III and a 26-yard pass to backup tailback Nate Starks. Rosen and the Bruins finally found an answer on their opening drive of the fourth quarter, covering 76 yards in eight plays capped by Rosen’s nine-yard touchdown pass to Jordan Payton with 11:29 left.
That touchdown, plus a two-point conversion, cut the Nebraska lead to 37-29.
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Fairbairn made 20 of his first 21 field-goal attempts, but missed the last three of his college career.
