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No. 7 UCLA survives at Virginia

Aug 30, 2014 - 10:09 PM Charlottesville, VA (SportsNetwork.com) - Brett Hundley threw for 242 yards and ran for a critical touchdown as seventh-ranked UCLA overcame a stiff test from Virginia to hold on for a 28-20 win at Scott Stadium.

Hundley's score made it 28-17 late in the third quarter for a Bruins program with national title aspirations. Paul Perkins finished with 80 yards on 16 carries for UCLA (1-0), which scored three defensive touchdowns in the second quarter.

Greyson Lambert made his first collegiate start at quarterback for the Cavaliers (0-1), but was benched late in the first half in favor of fellow redshirt sophomore Matt Johns after having two interceptions returned for touchdowns.

Johns provided a spark, throwing two touchdown passes to trim UCLA's lead to 21-17.

"We talked at the very beginning about execution, production and performance. We made the switch and obviously Matt did a very good job in the time he got in there," said Virginia head coach Mike London. "He can get better as well. Most of all, it's about players that can perform, and he rose to the occasion given his opportunity. Like any other position, you have to perform. We'll continue to evaluate players and look at the tape, and the players that can help us will play. Greyson is a young man who understands that as the game is going, there are decisions made that are in the best interest of the team."

Virginia made a defense stand early in the fourth quarter, sacking Hundley on fourth down, and closed to within eight on an Ian Frye 27-yard field goal.

The Cavaliers got the ball back at the UCLA 40 after forcing a three-and-out, but Johns' pass on fourth down from the 17 fell incomplete.

After Virginia used its final two timeouts, Hundley hit Jordan Payton for a 35-yard gain on 3rd-and-9 to effectively seal the win.

Hundley threw a 48-yard pass to Eldridge Massington on the first play from scrimmage, but the Bruins' offense had only four more first downs in a sluggish opening half for the unit.

"I think that we were tense, I think that we were tight," UCLA head coach Jim Mora said about the offense. "I told them that you don't have to score a touchdown on every play. Not every play is designed to be a touchdown, and I felt like we were trying to just do too much."

The long completion to Massington set UCLA up in field-goal range, but Ka'imi Fairbairn missed a 44-yarder wide left.

UCLA did build a 21-3 lead in the second quarter behind its defense.

Ishmael Adams, who had a punt return for a touchdown negated by a penalty in the first quarter, ran back a deflected Lambert pass 20 yards for a score.

The Cavaliers got a 35-yard field goal from Frye, but committed turnovers on consecutive series later in the second.

Kyle Dockins fumbled after a catch, derailing another promising Virginia drive. Randall Goforth scooped the ball up and ran 75 yards to the end zone.

Eric Kendricks then rumbled 37 yards for a touchdown after intercepting Lambert.

Johns took over on the next Virginia possession and promptly hit Andre Levrone on a 29-yard scoring strike with 52 seconds remaining before halftime.

The Bruins turned the ball over on their opening drive of the second half as Hundley was strip-sacked on fourth down in Virginia territory.

Johns then found Darius Jennings for a 23-yard touchdown, closing the gap to 21-17 with 7:33 left in the third quarter. Kevin Parks' 13-yard run on 4th- and-2 preceded the score.

Hundley, however, capped a nine-play drive with a 6-yard touchdown run on a quarterback draw.

Game Notes

The Bruins matched the school's single-season record for wins last year with 10 ... Virginia lost its final nine games last season and finished 2-10 ... Payton caught eight passes for 98 yards ... Johns threw for 154 yards after Lambert had 112 yards passing ... The Bruins' No. 7 preseason ranking is the program's highest since it was also ranked seventh prior to the 1998 campaign ... This marked the first meeting between the schools.