UCLA Makes Most of Big Plays in 20-17 Win Over Longhorns
By Steve Habel/Associate Editor
ARLINGTON, Texas -- If the growth of a football team is measured in steps, no doubt remains that Texas is on the upswing after losing 20-17 to 12-ranked UCLA Saturday night in the AdvoCare Cowboys Showdown at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Doubters might say that the Longhorns had no place to go but up after losing to BYU the week before, but that’s a defeatist opinion. Texas, with sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes showing more confidence with every snap, stood toe-to-toe with the Bruins until the final minutes.
That’s when the Horns’ inexperience came to the forefront as UCLA made two huge plays on its winning drive to find a way to pull victory out of the jaws of defeat.
UCLA backup quarterback Jerry Neuheisel hit Jordan Payton on a 33-yard scoring pass with 3:00 to play to give the Bruins (3-0) the win. The TD came on the play following a 45-yard punt return by the Bruins’ Ishmael Adams and [article-offer]
