SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 8, 2012
UCLA 36, No. 14 Nebraska 30: Johnathan Franklin rushed for 217 yards on 26 carries and caught a 9-yard touchdown pass for the clinching score with 2:13 left, lifting the host Bruins to the upset at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA (2-0) was also led by freshman quarterback Brett Hundley, who bounced back from a lower-body injury that caused him to miss two series in the third quarter. Hundley finished with 305 yards passing and four touchdowns on 21-of-33 passing.
The Cornhuskers (1-1) were without their No. 1 running back, Rex Burkhead, who suffered a left knee injury last week against Southern Mississippi. Ameer Abdullah filled in and rushed for 119 yards on 16 carries and scored two touchdowns.
Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez rushed for 112 yards in 13 carries and scored another touchdown, but was intercepted by UCLA defensive back Andrew Abbott with 3:07 remaining, leading to Franklinกฏs final touchdown.
After a closely played first half, Hundley left the game early in the third quarter after he slid awkwardly following a 9-yard run. Richard Brehaut took over for Hundley but was ineffective. Hundley returned later in the quarter after the Cornhuskers had tied the score 27-27 on a 43-yard field goal by Brett Maher.
The Bruins broke the tie when Datone Jones blew through the offensive line and sacked Martinez in the end zone for a safety with 8:44 left, giving the Bruins a 29-27 lead.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Franklin became the seventh running back in UCLA history to rush for more than 3,000 yards in his career. กญ The Bruins averaged 7.2 yards per carry. กญ Nebraska was just 1-for-11 on third downs. กญ The Bruins defeated the Cornhuskers for the first time since 1988.