UCLA freshman Theo Howard helped provide a second-half spark for the Bruins

UCLA freshman receiver Theo Howard congratulates teammate Kenneth Walker III after scoring a touchdown.

By Ben Bolch

Oct. 2, 2016 12:55 PM PT

Among those most surprised by Theo Howard’s first career touchdown reception: Theo Howard.

The UCLA freshman receiver had made only one catch in the season’s first four games and appeared to be on the verge of becoming a forgotten man after botching a play designed for him two weeks ago.

Then came a series of drops by Howard’s teammates in the first half against Arizona on Saturday at the Rose Bowl and, to paraphrase Simon and Garfunkel, a Bruins nation turned its lonely eyes to him.

“At halftime I told him to be ready because his number was being called,” UCLA receiver Kenneth Walker III said. “I was like, ‘Just be prepared, it’s gonna come.’”

A short pass arrived from quarterback Josh Rosen, and Howard turned it into a 19-yard touchdown, the first of the Bruins’ 31 second-half points that transformed a taut game into a 45-24 romp.

“We needed that spark,” UCLA Coach Jim Mora said. “We needed a guy to catch a little hitch and put his foot in the ground and turn upfield and make a play like he did.”

Howard did not pretend to know it was coming after making only his second catch of the season.

“You could say I was a little bit surprised,” Howard said. “Just a one-in-a-lifetime experience and feeling.”

Howard, on the slender side at 6 feet and 180 pounds, acknowledged the need to improve his blocking and master the playbook but appears to be back in a receiver rotation that has thinned. Eight UCLA players caught passes Saturday, tying a season low set against Texas A&M.

“You’re going to see a lot more of Theo Howard, I promise you that,” Mora said.

Nate the Great?

Mora explained after the game why Nate Starks won the nod as the featured tailback over Bolu Olorunfunmi and Soso Jamabo.

“He’s the most experienced of those three,” Mora said. “He’s got a great combination of power, speed, slipperiness, elusiveness. He can catch the ball, he can pass protect and I’m a fan of his.”

Starks finished with 80 yards and a touchdown in 17 carries. His average of 4.7 yards per carry almost doubled his previous average of 2.5 yards per carry, but the Bruins struggled overall, gaining 125 yards rushing and 3.9 yards per carry.

“We’ve still got to do a better job of running the football,” Mora said. “I don’t care what they’re giving us up front — what kind of movement, what kind of unscouted looks — I believe we should be able to run the football against anybody.”

Playing through

Defensive end Takkarist McKinley knows what’s coming every time he steps onto the field.

“It’s pretty much pain every play,” McKinley said, “but nothing I can do about it.”

McKinley continues to be plagued by a groin injury that has lingered since training camp, forcing him to miss most of the Bruins’ first two games. He registered one of the Bruins’ two sacks against Arizona and added a tackle for loss.

It appears the groin could bother McKinley for the rest of the season. Mora has said the team would manage the injury by resting him as much as possible during the week.

“I just get treatment every day, twice a day,” McKinley said, “and play my heart out Saturday.”

Don’t ask

Mora did not want to engage a reporter who asked about the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty he received in the first quarter for screaming at an official. The penalty gave Arizona a first down at a time when the Wildcats were lined up to punt.

“You know what, I’m going to take that up with the league and leave it at that,” Mora said.

So Mora still had an objection about the flag?

“Do I have an objection?” Mora asked. “Yeah, that’s an understatement.”

Quick hits

Mora said he used Adarius Pickett and Mossi Johnson instead of Ishmael Adams to return punts because of the unorthodox way Arizona defended returns with what he described as “that little rugby half-roll stuff that people are starting to do because they get these Australian guys.” Pickett returned one punt 33 yards, a season long for the Bruins. … Mora did not have updates on the conditions of right guard Kolton Miller or Adams after they left the game with injuries. Miller was on crutches, and Mora said Adams had partially dislocated his shoulder before it “went right back in.” The Bruins were also missing defensive tackle Eli Ankou because of an elbow injury he had sustained the previous week against Stanford. Jacob Tuioti-Mariner started in Ankou’s place.