CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. -- Brett Hundley was all smiles, mostly because of his defense.
Seventh-ranked UCLA scored three defensive touchdowns in the second quarter Saturday and Hundley led them on a critical second-half scoring drive as the Bruins escaped Virginia 28-20 in the opener for both teams.
"Sometimes a game like this might be good to get our team understanding that every game we have to come with it," the quarterback said. "We have to understand what we train for and we have to do it. ... We have a lot of stuff to work on."
Hundley, widely regarded as one of the nation's top quarterbacks, was harassed all day by Virginia's pressure defense, which sacked him five times, and made the biggest play of the day for UCLA with his feet. It came on a 6-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter when safety Quin Blanding met him around the 3 and Hundley overpowered him.
"Great players made plays when they need to be made," Bruins Coach Jim Mora Jr. said.
That he only had to make one was thanks to the defense, which registered three scores for the first time since 1986.
"When you stop the run like we did and put the ball in the end zone three times, that's a pretty special day," Mora said.
The Cavaliers had a first down at the Bruins' 19 late in the game, but three running plays netted just 2 yards and linebacker Myles Jack disrupted Matt Johns' fourth-and-8 pass to Doni Dowling.
The third-down run was Johns' fault, he said.
"I read the wrong line of my wristband," he said.
That Johns was even in the game was a surprise, but he came on to replace Greyson Lambert late in the first half, after the Bruins' third defensive touchdown gave them a 21-3 lead. Johns then led a touchdown drive and played the entire second half, creating questions about what had seemed to be a settled quarterback situation for Virginia.
Throughout the preseason, the development of Lambert as a player and a leader was touted by players and coaches as a great reason to be optimistic about the season. Then Johns outplayed him.
"Most of all, it's about players that can perform, and he rose to the occasion given his opportunity," Virginia Coach Mike London said of Johns, a redshirt sophomore. "Like any other position, you have to perform."
In other games involving Atlantic Coast Conference teams, James Conner rushed for 153 yards and four first-half touchdowns as host Pittsburgh ripped Delaware 62-0. Conner scored on runs of 7, 8, 1 and 19 yards as the Panthers opened the season with a victory for the first time under third-year coach Paul Chryst. Pitt pushed the overmatched Blue Hens around, outgaining Delaware 501-64 to post the program's first shutout in nine years. Chad Voytik completed 12 of 15 passes for 92 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first start, including a 12-yard strike to sophomore wide receiver Tyler Boyd that gave the Panthers a 14-0 first-quarter lead. ... Jacoby Brissett threw for 291 yards and three second-half touchdowns to help North Carolina State beat Georgia Southern 24-23 in Raleigh, N.C. Brissett connected with Matt Dayes on a 35-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline for the go-ahead score with 1:37 left. Georgia Southern had one last chance, but Kevin Ellison's fourth-down pass from his own 28 fell incomplete with 1:02 left. ... In Atlanta, Justin Thomas had 353 yards of total offense and DeAndre Smelter caught two third-quarter touchdown passes in Georgia Tech's 38-19 victory over Wofford. Making his first career start, Thomas went 11 of 15 for 282 yards and completed his last 8 passes for 250 yards to help the Yellow Jackets hold off the pesky FCS Terriers. ... Anthony Boone matched a career high with four touchdown passes and Duke opened its season by routing Elon 52-13 in Durham, N.C. Issac Blakeney caught two of those scores from Boone, covering 19 and 4 yards. Jamison Crowder caught the other two, from 46 and 13 yards. Boone -- who also threw four TDs two years ago against Virginia -- finished 22 of 33 for 247 yards, and Shaq Powell added a 2-yard touchdown run. Ross Martin kicked a 49-yard field goal and backup quarterback Thomas Sirk added two late touchdown runs for the defending ACC Coastal Division champions, who scored touchdowns on five of their first six possessions. John Gallagher kicked field goals of 36 and 35 yards and B.J. Bennett added a late 2-yard touchdown run for Elon. ... Michael Brewer threw for 251 yards with two touchdown passes, and Virginia Tech beat William & Mary 34-9 in Blacksburg, Va. Brewer, a transfer from Texas Tech, completed 23 of 30 passes, including touchdown passes of 13 yards to Isaiah Ford and 8 yards to Bucky Hodges. Virginia Tech pulled away by scoring on three consecutive drives and four of five spanning the first and second halves. Shai McKenzie led Tech with 106 yards in his debut, and the Hokies rushed for 222 yards. William & Mary finished with just 193 yards of total offense.
Sports on 08/31/2014