College Stuff for Real Men

Saturday, August 30, 2014

UCLA scores three defensive touchdowns in first half against Virginia

Prior to the season, a lot was made about UCLA’s offense and quarterback Brett Hundley as a possible Heisman Trophy contender.

Through the first half of Saturday’s season opener against Virginia, it’s the UCLA defense that’s points on the board for the Bruins.

All of UCLA first-half touchdowns have come off Virginia turnovers — all in the second quarter — and they have the Bruins ahead 21-10 at halftime.

Defensive back Ishmael Adams got the scoring going with an interception returned for 20 yards.

With 2:55 remaining in the half, defensive back Randall Goforth had a 75-yard fumble recovery for a score.

Linebacker Eric Kendricks capped the first-half scoring with a 37-yard interception return with 1:20 remaining the half.

If not for the defense, UCLA would be losing this game because the offense has done very little against a surprisingly stout Virginia defense. Hundley completed 9-of-13 passes for 113 yards in the first half and the running game managed just 23 yards.

If UCLA hopes to win this game, the offense will have to show up in the second half because there’s little chance the defense will be able to repeat its stellar first-half performance.

For more UCLA news, visit BruinSportsReport.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - UCLA scores three defensive touchdowns in first half against Virginia

Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman wears No. 5 in honor of Braxton Miller (GIF)

Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman ditched his No. 86 jersey for a different one against Navy.

With QB Braxton Miller out for the season with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder, Heuerman wore No. 5 on Saturday.

He posted a picture of the jersey to his Twitter account on Saturday morning.

Only right that part of him stays on the field with us @BraxtonMiller5 http://ift.tt/1n9tl4j

— Jeff Heuerman (@JHeuerman86) August 30, 2014

Last year, LB Ryan Shazier switched to No. 2 from No. 10 in October to honor Christian Bryant after Bryant broke his ankle. Shazier wore No. 2 for the rest of the season. No word if Heuerman will go back to his No. 86 after Saturday or keep wearing Miller's No. 5 for all of 2014.

In 2013, Heuerman had 26 catches for 466 yards and four touchdowns.

Unfortunately, Heuerman didn't put a bandage on the shoulder of his jersey to mimic the Braxton Miller mannequin at the Ohio State bookstore. After news that Miller was out for the season spread, someone put a bandage on the right shoulder (Miller's throwing shoulder) of the mannequin.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Ohio State TE Jeff Heuerman wears No. 5 in honor of Braxton Miller (GIF)

Ficken, Hackenberg lead Penn State to last-second win over UCF in Ireland (GIFs)

Penn State dominated the first half of the inaugural Croke Park Classic, but it let UCF hang around. It almost doomed the Nittany Lions, but senior kicker Sam Ficken came through in the clutch when it mattered most.

Ficken drilled a game-winning 36-yard field goal as time expired to give Penn State a dramatic 26-24 win over the Knights in Dublin, Ireland. It was Ficken’s fourth field goal of the day and it ensured that James Franklin’s first game as Penn State head coach was victorious.

Ficken’s kick capped off a drive that started with just 1:13 to go after UCF took a 24-23 lead on a 6-yard touchdown run by Knights quarterback Justin Holman, who came on in relief of struggling starter Pete DiNovo. The Penn State offense, led by sophomore quarterback Christian Hackenberg, was able to move its way up the field on a seven-play drive to set up Ficken’s heroics.

Hackenberg became the first Penn State quarterback to throw for over 400 yards in a game, racking up 457 yards and a touchdown on 32-of-47 passing attempts. Most of those passes were directed to sophomore Geno Lewis or redshirt freshman DaeSean Hamilton. Hamilton, in his first ever collegiate game, came up huge with 11 catches for 165 yards.

Lewis caught eight passes for 173 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Lewis also made an acrobatic catch for a 41-yard gain late in the fourth to give Hackenberg the school’s single-game passing record.

UCF was held to just 35 yards of total offense in the first half, but managed to keep the deficit to just seven points at halftime. After another DiNovo (3/8, 18 yards) drive fell flat to open the second half, head coach George O’Leary then inserted Holman into the ballgame midway through the third quarter and he immediately provided a spark.

Holman’s first drive resulted in a score. His second drive did, too. A few Penn State turnovers followed and when the Knights took over again down six with 3:30 to go, Holman, who finished 9-of-14 for 204 yards, led an eight-play, 75-yard drive in just 2:17 to give UCF a 24-23 lead.

Unfortunately for Holman, the Knights’ defense could not hold the lead.

If it's any consolation for UCF, I think we know who’ll be under center for the Knights next week against Missouri now.

For more Penn State news, visit BlueWhiteIllustrated.com.

For more UCF news, visit UCFSports.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

Follow @SamDCooper

From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Ficken, Hackenberg lead Penn State to last-second win over UCF in Ireland (GIFs)