Brett Hundley is making the most out of his final game as a member of the UCLA Bruins.
Prior to the Valero Alamo Bowl, UCLA head coach Jim Mora confirmed the quarterback will forgo his final year of eligibility with the Bruins to join the professional ranks.
Hundley saved one of his best games for last as the No. 14 Bruins lead the No. 11 Kansas State Wildcats 31-6 in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
The quarterback’s outstanding performance became quickly evident. The Bruins scored on all three first-quarter drives and quickly built a 17-0 lead.
Brett Hundley’s first quarter: 9-of-11 for 85 yards. Three carries for 42 yards and 2 TD’s. Shades of Sun Bowl Brett, so far.
— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) January 3, 2015
Hundley plays his best in bowl games. During last year’s Sun Bowl, the quarterback threw for 226 yards and a touchdown while adding 161 more yards on the ground with a pair of touchdowns.
The junior could duplicate the performance with a strong second-half effort. Hundley competed 11 of 20 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 57 yards and the pair of aforementioned touchdowns.
If the score isn’t any indication, history indicates the contest is already over for the Wildcats.
This is Brett Hundley’s 8th career game w/ 2 Rush TD. UCLA won the previous 7, all by double-digits, and scored at least 35 points in all 7.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 3, 2015
To make the second half more interesting, the Wildcats’ primary concern will be to take away the Bruins’ rushing attack. It wasn’t simply Hundley causing Kansas State problems. Running back Paul Perkins, the Pac-12’s leading rusher, carried the ball 11 times for 86 yards, which included a 32-yard touchdown romp.
Bill Snyder‘s squad must force Hundley to beat them through the air to slow the Bruins offense.
Kansas State, meanwhile, needs more from its quarterback. Senior Jake Waters hasn’t played like the quarterback seen during the team’s previous three contests. After completing nearly 74 percent of his passes against the West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas Jayhawks and Baylor Bears, Waters is only 9-of-19 passing for 89 yards with an interception.
As the second half resumes, it’s all about about Hundley showcasing his talents for the next level.