UCLA drills Tech, 42-12 in Sun Bowl

Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va.mini storageDec. 31--EL PASO, Texas -- UCLA's NFL-prospect quarterback torched Virginia Tech's defense for 161 rushing yards and two touchdowns and threw for two more, while the Hokies' pro hopeful watched most of the game from the sideline.Tech senior quarterback Logan Thomas was knocked out of the Sun Bowl midway through the second quarter, while UCLA sophomore Brett Hundley led the No. 17 Bruins to a 42-12 win Tuesday, Tech's second-most lopsided bowl loss ever.With Thomas out, the Hokies (8-5) turned to seldom-used backup Mark Leal, who struggled. Leal finished 12 for 25 for 129 yards. He threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, the first of which UCLA linebacker Myles Jack returned 24 yards for a touchdown to put the Bruins (10-3) up 28-10 with 13:22 left in the game.It was the most points allowed by Tech in a bowl game since giving up 52 to California in the 2003 Insight Bowl, and it was the biggest bowl loss for the Hokies since falling 42-3 to North Carolina in the 1998 Gator Bowl.The game changed for Tech in the second quarter. Three plays after a powerful run by Thomas fired up the Tech sideline, a big hit knocked the senior out of his final college game.With 13:35 to go in the first half, Thomas took a snap and rushed up the middle for a short-gain before being met by Jack. Thomas lowered his shoulder and knocked Jack to the ground, continuing to run for another 10 yards, dragging a host of UCLA tacklers for a 25-yard gain.Three plays later, on third and nine, Thomas rolled out and dumped a 3-yard pass to Joshua Stanford. But UCLA senior linebacker Jordan Zumwalt drilled his shoulder into Thomas' chin, drawing a 15-yard penalty but knocking Thomas out of the game, leaving him woozy.Tech officially announced his injury as a stinger.That brought in Leal, who, on his second drive in relief, led the Hokies into field-goal range. But junior Michael Branthover, Tech's fourth place-kicker of the season, missed a 46-yard kick wide right under heavy pressure with 2:08 left.Thomas' final stat line saw him go 4 for 12 for 48 yards, and run for 儲存hree times for 49 yards.Hundley rushed for 168 of his yards and two touchdowns in the first 30 minutes as the Bruins took a 14-7 lead into halftime. As a team, UCLA rushed for 202 yards in the first half, the most Tech has given up in a full game this season. That included Hundley's second score, an 86-yard touchdown run with 9:17 left in the half, that is the longest run the Hokies have allowed in a bowl game.Hundley gave Tech's defense fits from the first drive.Aided by three penalties against the Hokies' defense and two missed tackles, UCLA opened the game with a six-play, 74-yard scoring drive. Hundley scored on a seven-yard touchdown run, racing around the left side and shaking a tackle attempt by defensive end Dadi Nicolas to put the Bruins up 7-0 just 1:34 into the game.After going three-and-out on its first possession, Tech, appearing in its 21st consecutive bowl game, got it going on its second drive. Thomas picked up 19 yards on a scramble and freshman receiver Carlis Parker took a pair of sweep handoffs for 16 yards.Then Thomas hit freshman tight end Kalvin Cline for a 37-yard gain, dragging UCLA defenders inside the 2-yard line. Sophomore tailback J.C. Coleman finished the drive, scoring from a yard out behind big defensive tackle Derrick Hopkins, who enters the game in goal-line situations for Tech. That tied the game 7-7 with 8:14 left in the quarter.UCLA had a chance to go up late in the first quarter, but Kai'imi Fairbairn missed a 35-yard field goal wide left with 1:41 left in the period. Hundley ran for 82 of UCLA's 104 first-quarter rushing yards.Hundley ripped off his 86-yard scoring run with 9:17 left in the half to make it 14-7.Branthover hit his first career field goal with 3:53 left in the third quarter, a 22-yarder that made it 14-10. The score was set up when Tech long-snapper Eddie D'Antuono recovered a fumbled fair catch by UCLA punt returner Shaq Evans.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) Visit the Richmond Times-Dispatch (Richmond, Va.) at .timesdispatch.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉