UCLA Rallies Past SDSU In '09 Opener

(first published on KLAC's Bruins Board website --- 9/6/09)

For a half, the San Diego State gave UCLA all it could ask for. The Aztecs took the opening kickoff and drove 69 yards in 14 plays to grab a 7-0 lead five minutes into the game. A Rose Bowl crowd of 55,761 was hushed early. But it would get better, with the Bruins spotting the Aztecs an 11 point lead before eventually rallying for 30 straight points of their own and a 33-14 win.

“I think early on we were just a little overaggressive,” offered senior linebacker Reggie Carter in the locker room afterwards. “Guys were missing some tackles. I mean, it’s the season opener, you’re trying to get the fans into it, plus you gotta give them a lot of respect. They’re not a bad team.”

Whatever the reason for the sluggish start, quarterback Kevin Prince had a lot to do with the turnaround. The redshirt freshman started and played in his first collegiate game, hitting on all of his first five passes. There were few signs of the jitters from Prince, and the offensive line’s play had a lot to do with it. Aztec defensive pressure was greatly limited in this one.

“Last year, the offensive line was a weakness for out team,” said center Kai Maiva. “Nothing against the guys who were here, but this year we need to be a lot better if we’re going to be as good as we think we can be. Tonight was a good start.”

Still, San Diego actually led this one 14-3 late in the first quarter. It took touchdown runs of 12 yards by Jonathan Franklin and 30 yards by Derrick Coleman to turn the score around. Throw in a blocked field goal returned 65 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Alterraun Verner and a five yard TD toss from Prince to WR Terrance Austin, and this one was all wrapped up by the fourth. Sophomore safety Rahid Moore had a big game as well, adding three interceptions.

“It’s a good first game,” summed up head coach Rick Neuheisel. “We did some things really well out there, but we’ve obviously got all kinds of stuff to work on. That’s what we’ll be doing this week, ironing out the kinks from this one while we prepare for a great opponent in Tennessee.”

Last year, UCLA nipped the Vols by three points in overtime at the Rose Bowl in the season opener. It would prove to be the high point of the season for the Bruins en route to a dismal 4-8 campaign. Now the Bruins try to make it two straight over one of college football’s powerhouses.

“Any time you get to play in a stadium like Neyland in a place like Knoxville, it’s a special experience,” said Neuheisel. “Winning there would just make it that much more special.”

-JAB