Saturday, October 28
Pasadena, CA
4:30 PM
UCLA
28
vs
16
Colorado
Photo by: UCLA Athletics
Second-Half Surge Lifts No. 23 UCLA Past Colorado, 28-16
October 28, 2023 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – No. 23 UCLA defeated Colorado inside the Rose Bowl Saturday, outscoring the Buffaloes 21-10 in the second half to secure the victory. The Bruins improve to 14-5 in the all-time series matchup with Colorado.
Redshirt-junior Ethan Garbers logged the start at quarterback for the Bruins, finishing with 269 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Senior wide receiver Logan Loya led the receiving corps with 111 yards on the day.
UCLA added 218 rushing yards to the air attack, totaling 487 all-purpose yards. The Bruins held Colorado to 242 yards — including just 25 rushing yards — in the conference matchup.
The Bruins had two running backs with 75 yards or more: sophomore T.J. Harden (78 yards) and junior Carson Steele (75 yards). Harden recorded the longest run (23 yards) of the game and a touchdown in the win.
UCLA's defense stifled the Colorado attack. The Bruins had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Senior Laiatu Latu matched his career high with three sacks.
The Bruins broke up seven passes on the day, preventing the Buffaloes from getting in an offensive rhythm. Two of those key break-ups came in the first quarter. Senior John Humphrey denied an attempt at the end zone to help prevent a touchdown on Colorado's first drive, holding the Buffaloes to a field goal. Colorado led 3-0 with 10:40 on the clock. Redshirt-freshman Kamari Ramsey broke up a throw in the red zone on the next drive, preventing the Buffaloes from getting to UCLA's five-yard line. Colorado cashed in a second field goal but was unable to find the end zone.
UCLA was unable to score on its first two drives, but started the third drive with an inspired run game. Harden put together a string of rushes to help UCLA inch closer to the opposing end zone. On fourth and 11 at Colorado's 37-yard line, the Bruins went for it. Garbers tucked the pigskin and scrambled for 13 yards to secure a first down with 1:24 on the clock. The Bruins kept marching and got to the eight-yard line as time expired for the first period of play.
Garbers again kept the football on the first play of quarter two; he gained five yards on another scramble to inch closer to the goal line, then threw a three-yard completion to an open Carson Steele for UCLA's first score of the game. UCLA took its first lead, 7-6, with 14:22 left to play in the half.
On Colorado's next drive, the UCLA defense began to form its brick wall. Senior Laiatu Latu had a 10-yard sack to force a 4th-and-24 at the Colorado 10-yard line. The sack forced Colorado to punt on its first drive of the quarter. The Buffaloes punted on five-straight drives heading into the half; the Bruins outpaced Colorado 222-107 in total yards at the break. UCLA had five sacks split among four Bruins through two quarters.
UCLA came out firing in the second half, taking just two plays to put the ball in the end zone. Garbers connected with senior wide out Logan Loya for a 49-yard completion. The quarterback wasted no time in finding junior tight end Moliki Matavao on the next play, slinging a pass up the middle for a 26-yard pass; Matavao wrangled the ball at the eight-yard line and took it to the house to give UCLA an eight-point lead.
Despite allowing a deep completion by the Buffaloes on the next drive, UCLA's goal line defense proved effective against a scrambling Colorado offense. Gabriel Murphy and Latu joined forces to bring down the quarterback, sacking Shedeur Sanders for a loss of eight yards. Kain Medrano hurried the QB on the next play and forced an incomplete pass, ruining Colorado's hopes of a touchdown. The Buffaloes opted for a field goal.
UCLA started its next drive on its own 20-yard line and four minutes remaining in the quarter. The Bruins attacked by air and land and made their way down field. Loya had an exceptional reception, reeling in a one-handed catch and barely tapping a toe in bounds to keep the drive alive.
Garbers threw for 47 yards on the drive. Harden finished the job in the fourth quarter; on third down, the sophomore running back broke off to the left for a three-yard carry. The score put UCLA up 21-9 with 14:13 remaining in the game.
The Bruins forced another punt, taking possession at their own 25-yard line. UCLA refused to be stopped on the drive; Garbers, Harden, Loya and Steele carried a lion's share of the load to get the Bruins downfield. Redshirt-junior quarterback Collin Schlee checked in under center as UCLA approached the red zone. The quarterback rushed twice in four plays; Schlee's QB keeper led him into the left side of the end zone for UCLA's fourth touchdown. Colorado answered with its first touchdown of the game, but the Bruins were up 28-16 with time winding down. The Buffaloes failed to convert an onside kick attempt, and UCLA ran the clock down under a minute. Colorado was unable to put together another attacking drive, and the Bruins came out victorious.
Up Next: at Arizona (Nov. 4)
The Bruins go on the road to face conference foe Arizona next Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is set to occur at 7:30 p.m. PT in Tucson, Ariz.; the game will be broadcast on FS1.
Redshirt-junior Ethan Garbers logged the start at quarterback for the Bruins, finishing with 269 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Senior wide receiver Logan Loya led the receiving corps with 111 yards on the day.
UCLA added 218 rushing yards to the air attack, totaling 487 all-purpose yards. The Bruins held Colorado to 242 yards — including just 25 rushing yards — in the conference matchup.
The Bruins had two running backs with 75 yards or more: sophomore T.J. Harden (78 yards) and junior Carson Steele (75 yards). Harden recorded the longest run (23 yards) of the game and a touchdown in the win.
UCLA's defense stifled the Colorado attack. The Bruins had 10 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Senior Laiatu Latu matched his career high with three sacks.
The Bruins broke up seven passes on the day, preventing the Buffaloes from getting in an offensive rhythm. Two of those key break-ups came in the first quarter. Senior John Humphrey denied an attempt at the end zone to help prevent a touchdown on Colorado's first drive, holding the Buffaloes to a field goal. Colorado led 3-0 with 10:40 on the clock. Redshirt-freshman Kamari Ramsey broke up a throw in the red zone on the next drive, preventing the Buffaloes from getting to UCLA's five-yard line. Colorado cashed in a second field goal but was unable to find the end zone.
UCLA was unable to score on its first two drives, but started the third drive with an inspired run game. Harden put together a string of rushes to help UCLA inch closer to the opposing end zone. On fourth and 11 at Colorado's 37-yard line, the Bruins went for it. Garbers tucked the pigskin and scrambled for 13 yards to secure a first down with 1:24 on the clock. The Bruins kept marching and got to the eight-yard line as time expired for the first period of play.
Garbers again kept the football on the first play of quarter two; he gained five yards on another scramble to inch closer to the goal line, then threw a three-yard completion to an open Carson Steele for UCLA's first score of the game. UCLA took its first lead, 7-6, with 14:22 left to play in the half.
On Colorado's next drive, the UCLA defense began to form its brick wall. Senior Laiatu Latu had a 10-yard sack to force a 4th-and-24 at the Colorado 10-yard line. The sack forced Colorado to punt on its first drive of the quarter. The Buffaloes punted on five-straight drives heading into the half; the Bruins outpaced Colorado 222-107 in total yards at the break. UCLA had five sacks split among four Bruins through two quarters.
UCLA came out firing in the second half, taking just two plays to put the ball in the end zone. Garbers connected with senior wide out Logan Loya for a 49-yard completion. The quarterback wasted no time in finding junior tight end Moliki Matavao on the next play, slinging a pass up the middle for a 26-yard pass; Matavao wrangled the ball at the eight-yard line and took it to the house to give UCLA an eight-point lead.
Despite allowing a deep completion by the Buffaloes on the next drive, UCLA's goal line defense proved effective against a scrambling Colorado offense. Gabriel Murphy and Latu joined forces to bring down the quarterback, sacking Shedeur Sanders for a loss of eight yards. Kain Medrano hurried the QB on the next play and forced an incomplete pass, ruining Colorado's hopes of a touchdown. The Buffaloes opted for a field goal.
UCLA started its next drive on its own 20-yard line and four minutes remaining in the quarter. The Bruins attacked by air and land and made their way down field. Loya had an exceptional reception, reeling in a one-handed catch and barely tapping a toe in bounds to keep the drive alive.
JUMPMAN.
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) October 29, 2023
CATCH OF THE YEAR CANDIDATE LOGAN LOYA.
??: ABC
??: https://t.co/rTM1Y5TWC9#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/asEbpt0zti
Garbers threw for 47 yards on the drive. Harden finished the job in the fourth quarter; on third down, the sophomore running back broke off to the left for a three-yard carry. The score put UCLA up 21-9 with 14:13 remaining in the game.
The Bruins forced another punt, taking possession at their own 25-yard line. UCLA refused to be stopped on the drive; Garbers, Harden, Loya and Steele carried a lion's share of the load to get the Bruins downfield. Redshirt-junior quarterback Collin Schlee checked in under center as UCLA approached the red zone. The quarterback rushed twice in four plays; Schlee's QB keeper led him into the left side of the end zone for UCLA's fourth touchdown. Colorado answered with its first touchdown of the game, but the Bruins were up 28-16 with time winding down. The Buffaloes failed to convert an onside kick attempt, and UCLA ran the clock down under a minute. Colorado was unable to put together another attacking drive, and the Bruins came out victorious.
Up Next: at Arizona (Nov. 4)
The Bruins go on the road to face conference foe Arizona next Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is set to occur at 7:30 p.m. PT in Tucson, Ariz.; the game will be broadcast on FS1.