Redshirt senior De'Marieya Nelson rushes UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley in the second quarter of the Sun Devils' game against UCLA. (Photo by Andrew Ybanez)Videos by Stefan Modrich | Assistant Sports Editor
In its first three games of the season, the UCLA football team did not perform up to the expectations thrust upon them by outside. Thursday night in Tempe, they proved the critics wrong emphatically.
The Bruins (4-0, 1-0 Pac-12) dominated No. 15 Arizona State 62-27 at Sun Devil Stadium. Junior cornerback Ishmael Adams was instrumental in the victory, returning an interception 95 yard for a touchdown to end the first half and returning a kickoff 100 yards in the second half to give the Bruins nearly insurmountable momentum.
The Sun Devils led 17-6 in the second quarter before UCLA scored the next 28 points, including a momentum-changing 95-yard interception return for a touchdown by junior defensive back Ishmael Adams.
Head coach Jim Mora said that it was one of the most important plays of the game.
"(It was a) huge, huge play in that game," Mora said. "They had momentum and at the very least they're probably going to get a field goal because they've got a very good field goal kicker. If they score a touchdown, they're up. I don't know if there's a better guy to have the ball in his hands in that situation that Ish."
Redshirt junior quarterback Brett Hundley played very well for the Bruins, going 18-23 through the air for 355 yards and four touchdown passes. Hundley also ran the ball eight times for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone was impressed with Hundley's play.
"He's a hometown guy and he came in here with a lot of friends and a lot of family and didn't get to play last week, so I was proud of the way he battled through his injury and had a good game," Mazzone said.
While UCLA kept their quarterback situation secretive during the week, Hundley admitted that he knew he was playing from the beginning.
"I've been knowing, we just kept it a secret," Hundley said.
Hundley said that he had a lot of family and friends in attendance, which added something to the game on top of the budding rivalry between the programs.
Hundley's favorite receiver was junior Jordan Payton, who caught five passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns, including an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the second half, putting UCLA up by 17 points.
Payton said that he did not see anything different from Hundley despite his injury.
"(There was) nothing unusual, he's a freak of nature, honestly," Payton said. "I saw it during the week, though. He practiced extremely well to be ready for this game. He just came out and played."
Defensively, the Bruins were able to force four turnovers which led to their victory. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, while happy UCLA came away victorious, said he has greater expectations for the unit.
UCLA defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on win over ASU: from The State Press on Vimeo.
"I think our group has so much more potential and so much more in the tank," Ulbrich said. "You enjoy the win and obviously you're happy about the win, but we can be so much better on defense. We've yet to play a complete game and play to our potential. I'm happy that we won. It's a big time win against a great opponent, but, at the same time, we have to be better."
Reach the reporter at mtonis@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @Tonis_The_Tiger
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