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UCLA Football Spring Game Recap: Defense, Austin Burton shine

By Mike Regalado

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Devon Modster
PASADENA, CA – NOVEMBER 24: Devon Modster /

UCLA Football Spring Game Recap (cont.)

The two main storylines out of this game had to do with the defense and the quarterback play.

Let us start with the quarterbacks. The Bruins were split into “blue” and “white” teams that were about evenly split based on talent (and availability). The interesting part, when it came to the QBs, was that Devon Modster and Matt Lynch, who have mostly been running the first and second teams respectively, were on the same team. Austin Burton and Jackson Gibbs were on the White team, which turned out to be the winning team. Take that for what you will when analyzing the QB battle.

Austin Burton, who has generally been the 3rd-string QB, was the most impressive. He got things started early in the game with a two-yard touchdown pass to freshman WR Chase Cota on a drive that moved at a decent pace, though not break-neck speed. Later in the game, Burton ran the ball for one-yard touchdown on a very impressive drive.

Burton had connected with Demetric Felton for a 45 yard gain down the right sideline, putting the White team in the red zone. That was followed up by a 15-yard run from Soso Jamabo up the middle which put the ball at the 2-yard line. Shortly after that, Burton scored on the keeper in the zone read.

Burton was also the only quarterback to not throw an interception, though he was not the only one to throw a touchdown pass. In the second quarter, Matt Lynch finally got up to speed as he led the Blue team down the field that was capped off by a pass in the corner of the end zone to Theo Howard for a 22-yard strike. Though it was a little off, Howard left up to reel in the pass and get the score.

Modster had a tough day. He was able to make a few nice runs and passes, but his day could easily be summed up by the final play of the game. With 2 seconds left and the ball at the 20, Mpdster and the Blue team had a chance to score and take the lead. Modster dropped the snap and was tackled for a loss. Game over.

And before I switch over to the defense, I wanted to note that walk-on running back Josh Kelley looked like the most impressive ball carrier on the day. Jamabo and Bolu Olorunfunmi had decent outings, but Kelley really stood out with several solid runs.