A group in want of a savior discovered one within the unlikeliest of locations and most acquainted of faces.
Jerry Neuheisel, the UCLA tight ends coach who was elevated to playcaller solely 4 days earlier than his winless group confronted a top-10 opponent, dialed up an offensive plan that produced factors on every of the Bruins’ first 5 drives.
The enjoyable let up solely momentarily on the way in which to UCLA’s gorgeous 42-37 victory over No. 7 Penn State on Saturday afternoon on the Rose Bowl, followers offering their giddy verdict with a chant they unleashed from the opening drive by the fourth quarter.
“Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!”
The sport turned tense late, requiring a defensive cease after UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava was stuffed on fourth down, giving the ball again to Penn State on the Bruins’ 32-yard line with two minutes left.
The Nittany Lions reached the 9 earlier than UCLA defensive again Scooter Jackson surged into the backfield and dropped quarterback Drew Allar for a three-yard loss with 37 seconds left.
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9) evades Penn State defensive finish Chaz Coleman (19) to scramble for a acquire on Saturday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
After Bruins punter Will Karoll deliberately stepped out of the again of the top zone for a security to tug Penn State inside 5 factors, the Nittany Lions couldn’t cross midfield earlier than the sport ended.
After the ultimate play, Neuheisel was hoisted into the air by his grateful gamers, winless no extra.
“He places that perception in us that we are able to go on the market and execute,” Iamaleava mentioned after accounting for 5 touchdowns, “and he put collectively an incredible sport plan for us.”
The query stays of whether or not this was a turning level or a brief reprieve in a misplaced season, however a minimum of for the second everybody related to the group may deeply exhale.
Neuheisel mentioned he discovered he could be calling performs at 5 p.m. Tuesday. He estimated that he’s had three hours of sleep since then, the Bruins nonetheless conducting walk-throughs to grasp the offense Saturday morning.
“We had two days to follow the brand new sport plan,” Neuheisel mentioned, and all they did was consider.”
Masterfully operating the Neuheisel‘s offense was Iamaleava, who lastly had one thing to indicate for his cross-country transfer from Tennessee that made him the discuss of the offseason in faculty soccer.
“Huge-time gamers make big-time performs, and that’s what he did on the market,” UCLA interim coach Tim Skipper mentioned whereas clutching the sport ball.
UCLA extensive receiver Kwazi Gilmer (3) celebrates with teammate Titus Mokiao-Atimalala (2) after making a landing catch towards Penn State within the fourth quarter.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Iamealeava ran for 3 touchdowns and handed for 2 extra because the Bruins (1-4 total, 1-1 Huge Ten) almost doubled their earlier excessive level whole this season. Dealing with third and purpose halfway by the fourth quarter, Iamaleava dropped again earlier than taking off and racing into the entrance proper nook of the top zone. He then zipped a two-point conversion move into the again of the top zone to Kwazi Gilmer that gave UCLA a 42-28 benefit.
In what might need certified as his greatest day as a school participant, Iamaleava accomplished 17 of 24 passes for 166 yards and ran 16 occasions for 128 yards, together with a nifty 52-yard acquire through which he spun away from a defender.
Given the circumstances, Neuheisel’s playcalling debut might need been a extra valiant effort than his coming off the bench as UCLA’s quarterback in 2014 to steer his group to a comeback victory over Texas.
Bear in mind, these Bruins had been nationally ranked.
This model had been nationally lampooned whereas averaging 14.2 factors a sport on the way in which to 4 consecutive losses that led to the departures of coach DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe and offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri. Sunseri’s leaving prompted the Bruins to raise Neuheisel and usher in Noel Mazzone, his outdated UCLA offensive coordinator and boss for one season at Texas A&M, as an analyst and advisor to his outdated protege.
Collectively they devised a scheme that helped the Bruins roll up 446 yards of offense.
“No one on the planet anticipated us to win, let’s be trustworthy right here,” UCLA security Key Lawrence mentioned.
The celebrating began at halftime, UCLA gamers leaping excitedly and flapping their arms as they ran towards the locker room after Mateen Bhaghani’s 54-yard subject purpose gave the Bruins a shocking 27-7 lead.
To that time, UCLA’s domination was as full as its failures had been in dropping its first 4 video games. The Bruins scored on all 5 first-half drives, recovered an onside kick and outgained the Nittany Lions, 285-92, in whole yardage.
UCLA extensive receiver Kwazi Gilmer dives into the top zone on an 11-yard move within the first half towards Penn State.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
Indicators of what was to come back began on the opening drive.
After profitable the coin toss and electing to obtain, UCLA rapidly marched for a rating on its opening drive. Gilmer took a brief move from Iamaleava and prolonged the ball throughout the purpose line for an 11-yard landing that gave the Bruins a 7-0 benefit.
These chants of “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!” crammed the stadium after UCLA took its first lead of the season after 244 minutes 34 seconds of soccer.
The enjoyable was simply getting began for the Bruins. Bhaghani instantly unfurled an onside kick that Kanye Clark recovered, resulting in a subject purpose and a 10-0 cushion on a day that belonged to the blond-haired coach and lifelong Bruin whose debut as a playcaller figures to result in many new alternatives.
“Only a particular, special occasion,” Neuheisel mentioned. “I don’t know the place it could rank, I don’t know the right way to actually put it into phrases, I simply am glad I’m the one who will get to be in it proper now.”