UCLA Football: Bruins Put Together Best Performance in Time for Pac-12 Play

The 20-17 final score of No. 12 UCLA's win at Texas may not show it, but the Bruins had their best all-around performance thus far into the 2014 season—and they did so just in time for the start of the Pac-12 Conference season.

Playing in place of star quarterback Brett Hundley, who injured his elbow in the first quarter, back-up Jerry Neuheisel stepped up to deliver a 33-yard strike to wide receiver Jordan Payton to cap UCLA's most complete of a sometimes inconsistent opening stretch of games.

A stingy effort from the defense and a reliable running attack buoyed the Bruins with their Heisman Trophy candidate sidelined. The combination is a big step forward before embarking on the conference slate.

UCLA had promising play on sides of the ball prior to Saturday's win...just not in the same game. There was plenty, however, for head coach Jim Mora and his staff to build on from the efforts of both the UCLA offense and defense against Texas.

Certainly Saturday's win was not the prettiest. Texas came into the contest in Arlington, Texas, one week removed from a 41-7 thrashing by Brigham Young—the Longhorns' worst home defeat since UCLA crushed them 66-3 in 1997.

However, Texas took the fight to the Hundley-less Bruins for all 60 minutes, even taking the lead with a little more than five minutes remaining when quarterback Tyrone Swoopes found wide receiver John Harris in the end zone.

UCLA responded with the necessary resolve, overcoming adversity to beat a desperate opponent.

Mora talked of the importance of the win in his postgame press conference, via UCLABruins.com:

"

We just felt like this was an opportunity for us to put all the work that we've done over the course of the last year or three years on display and really prove it to ourselves, beyond anyone else, what this team was made of.  And I think that we went out and did that.

"

Neuheisel's touchdown pass was the difference-maker, but Texas having to contend with the Bruins on the ground helped make it happen.

Running back Paul Perkins continued his development into a viable, No. 1 option with a career-high 126 yards. Meanwhile, Jordon James had his best outing since injuring his ankle in early October 2013, going for 69 yards on eight carries.

Helping pave the way for the Bruins' ball-carriers was an offensive line, which ESPN.com's Ted Miller tweeted, was oft-criticized in UCLA's first two outings.

The appearance of the consistent and multifaceted run game Mora said he wanted earlier this week is a major development for the UCLA offense heading into Pac-12 play. The Bruins were inconsistent with their rushing attack a season ago, but the UCLA offense is quickly finding the necessary balance to give Hundley breathing room in the passing attack when he returns to full strength.

When that might be, time will tell. Jack Wang of the Los Angeles Daily News tweeted that the quarterback will have an MRI on his elbow tomorrow.

UCLA gets 12 days for Hundley to recover. The Bruins are headed into a bye week before traveling to Arizona State for a crucial Pac-12 showdown Sept. 25.

In the meantime, Neuheisel provided the kind of calming influence a team playing its reserve quarterback needs. Though he was limited primarily to swing routes, bubble screens and assorted other short-yardage pass plays, he avoided catastrophe.

Most importantly, he delivered the big play when it was most needed.

The Bruins coming together to carry Neuheisel off the field after the final whistle could be remembered as a pivotal moment in their season. The team rallied amid adversity and delivered in two areas that were decided question marks in their first two games, and finished the nonconference slate undefeated.

Hundley was the missing element from UCLA putting together a truly complete game. Should he come back in time for the start of Pac-12 competition, the Bruins appear to be hitting their stride at just the right time.

Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Statistics compiled via UCLABruins.com.