Pasadena, CA (SportsNetwork.com) – Paul Perkins and Jordan Payton scored
touchdowns 50 seconds apart in the third quarter and 25th-ranked UCLA shut
down the prolific offense of No. 14 Arizona in a 17-7 victory on Saturday.
The Bruins (7-2, 4-2 Pac-12) pulled out a third straight win by limiting the
Wildcats to 255 total yards — nearly 300 less than their season average.
Brett Hundley threw for 189 yards and a touchdown and added 131 yards on the
ground in leading a Bruins offense that totaled 460 yards and held the ball
for 38 minutes.
Anu Solomon was under pressure all night and completed only 18-of-47 passes
for 175 yards with a touchdown and an interception for Arizona (6-2, 3-2),
which has dropped two of its last three.
The Wildcats appeared well on their way to another offensive showcase after
they took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in 10 plays.
Cayleb Jones got one foot inbounds in the back corner of the end zone on a 14-
yard pass from Solomon, but the visitors amassed just 28 yards the rest of the
first half.
UCLA moved into Arizona territory on each of its first four possessions and
came away with a total of three points. Ka’imi Fairbairn, after missing a 37-
yard field goal in the first quarter, nailed a 24-yarder early in the second.
The Bruins cashed in on their chances in the third quarter, however. Perkins
capped a 12-play, 58-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run, and Payton
hauled in a 70-yard touchdown pass on the ensuing possession.
Arizona’s only promising drive in the third quarter ended with Casey Skowron
pushing a 39-yard field goal try wide right.
Three straight three-and-outs to start the fourth spelled doom for the
Wildcats, but they found hope when Hundley lost a fumble with 4:32 remaining.
Arizona took over at its own 35-yard line and drove inside the UCLA 10, and
incompletions on 2nd and 3rd-and goal brought out the kicking unit.
Skowron had a chance to make it a seven-point game, but his 26-yard try was
blocked, and the Bruins held on for a critical conference win.
Game Notes
Arizona had averaged 40.6 points per game coming in … Hundley tied Cade
McNown for the UCLA record in career touchdowns passes (68) … Solomon ended
the game wearing No. 18 after his No. 12 jersey was ripped during a tackle …
Arizona safety Jourdon Grandon was flagged for targeting and ejected in the
second quarter … The Bruins committed 11 penalties, nine in the first half
… UCLA has won three straight meetings.
