UCLA’s defense bails out turnover-prone offense in win over Colorado
UCLA broke out light blue retro uniforms Saturday, a tribute to its only national championship team in 1954.
Fortunately for the Bruins, their defense lived up to the throwback moment.
Applying constant pressure, No. 23 UCLA withstood a turnover-prone offense and more special-teams blunders on the way to a 28-16 victory over Colorado before 71,343 at the Rose Bowl, the largest home crowd of the Chip Kelly era.
Shadowing Buffaloes quarterback Shadeur Sanders in the backfield for much of the evening, edge rusher Laiatu Latu tallied three of the Bruins’ seven sacks. UCLA (6-2 overall, 3-2 Pac-12) limited Colorado (4-4, 1-4) to 255 yards of offense while giving up just three fields goals and one garbage-time touchdown.
UCLA defeats Colorado behind stellar defensive effort
🏈 UCLA 28, Colorado 16 — FINAL
Behind another stellar defensive effort and a second-half offensive resurgence unburdened by turnovers, UCLA defeated Colorado in front of announced crowd of 71,343 at the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins held a slim 7-6 lead at halftime after four turnovers — two lost fumbles by Carson Steele and two interceptions by Colorado’s Travis Hunter — stymied the UCLA offense. Touchdowns by TJ Harden and Collin Schlee in the second half helped UCLA pull away.
Colorado strikes with its first touchdown late in fourth quarter
🏈 UCLA 28, Colorado 16 — 2:27 left in the fourth quarter
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jimmy Horn Jr., an impressive feat for a clearly injured Sanders who has been hobbling for most of the fourth quarter.
Sanders has completed 26 of 41 passes for 199 yards despite being sacked seven times and pressured constantly by the formidable UCLA pass rush.
Collin Schlee touchdown puts UCLA in control late
🏈 UCLA 28, Colorado 9 — 6:34 left in the fourth quarter
Collin Schlee scored on a seven-yard touchdown run to wrap up an impressive, 11-play, 75-yard UCLA drive featuring both Schlee and Ethan Garbers running the offense.
Schlee started the drive under center, scrambling for six yards before Garbers re-entered and completed passes of six and 10 yards to Logan Loya. TJ Harden then picked up 25 yards on a catch-and-run, finishing the play with an acrobatic leap over a defender.
Schlee returned and, after an 11-yard run by Carson Steele, found a gap and powered his way to the end zone.
UCLA extends its lead on TJ Harden touchdown run
🏈 UCLA 21, Colorado 9 — 14:13 left in the fourth quarter
TJ Harden scored on a three-yard run to cap an impressive drive kept alive by a spectacular catch by Logan Loya.
Loya made a spectacular one-handed grab on a 12-yard pass on third down, managing to get his left toe down before his other foot landed out of bounds. The pass was initially ruled incomplete before Chip Kelly challenged the call and it was overturned on replay, giving the Bruins a first down.
Harden followed with a 23-yard run to get UCLA in the red zone, setting up his touchdown run a short time later.
UCLA continues to pressure Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado quarterback has been sacked six times and was hobbling on the Buffaloes’ last possession.
Colorado tacks on another field goal after a 45-yard pass
🏈 UCLA 14, Colorado 9 — 4:03 left in the third quarter
Colorado’s Alejandro Mata kicked a 34-yard field goal — his third field goal of the game — to cut into UCLA’s lead.
The touchdown was set up by Shedeur Sanders connecting on a 45-yard pass to Xavier Weaver to put the ball on the UCLA nine-yard line. But that was as far as the Buffaloes would get, with Sanders being pressured by twins Gabriel and Grayson Murphy and Laiatu Latu sacking him on second down.
Colorado is staying in the game despite having just 160 total yards in comparison to UCLA’s 348 — but the Bruins have four turnovers and Colorado has zero.
UCLA strikes fast, scoring TD on second play of third quarter
🏈 UCLA 14, Colorado 6 — 14:25 left in the third quarter
It took UCLA just two plays to extend its lead at the start of the second half.
Ethan Garbers completed a 49-yard pass to wide receiver Logan Loya then followed with a 26-yard touchdown pass over the middle to tight end Moliki Matavao against a bewildered Buffaloes defensive unit.
Will Colorado be able to respond after UCLA’s defense shut it down most of the first half?
Carson Steele fumbles again, squandering another UCLA scoring chance
🏈 UCLA 7, Colorado 6 — HALFTIME
It’s now two fumbles for Carson Steele — and four turnovers for UCLA.
The UCLA running back lost the ball after being hit by Rodrick Ward at the Colorado six-yard line just before halftime. Like Steele’s first fumble, it came at the end of an 18-yard run into the Colorado red zone. Safety Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig recovered the ball.
Ethan Garbers completed nine of 13 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has 98 yards on 15-of-26 passing. Steele has 54 yards in six carries.
The UCLA defense has bailed out the failures of its offense. They’ve held Colorado to 107 total yards and have forced punts on the Buffaloes’ last five possessions.
Colorado cornerback Travis Hunter picked off Garbers and Collin Schlee and safety Shilo Sanders caused Steele’s first fumble before he was disqualified for targeting in the second quarter.
UCLA misses field goal; Shilo Sanders ejected for targeting
🏈 UCLA 7, Colorado 6 — 1:37 left in the second quarter
R.J. Lopez missed a 25-yard field-goal attempt, kicking the ball off the left upright to keep it a one-point game. UCLA has missed three consecutive field-goal attempts over the last two games and five of its last eight tries.
Ethan Garbers re-entered the game after Collin Schlee’s brief appearance at quarterback, and immediately broke off a 17-yard run. Garbers then completed a 21-yard pass to tight end Carsen Ryan before managing to drive the Bruins 74 yards on 10 plays to the Colorado six-yard line before running out of momentum.
Colorado safety Shilo Sanders was ejected for targeting after delivering a huge hit on Ryan after a short reception. Sanders, the son of Colorado coach, Deion Sanders, appeared to lead with the helmet under the chin and was initially flagged for a personal foul before targeting was determined following a replay review. Ryan was slow to get up after the play.
Collin Schlee takes over at QB and is picked off by Travis Hunter
🏈 UCLA 7, Colorado 6 — 8:34 left in the second quarter
Collin Schlee took over at quarterback for UCLA but was immediately picked off by Travis Hunter, the Colorado star’s second interception of the game.
But Colorado failed to capitalize on the Bruins’ third turnover of the game and went three-and-out for the fourth consecutive time against the vaunted UCLA defense.
UCLA coach Chip Kelly made the change at quarterback after a less-than-thrilling start by Ethan Garbers through the Bruins’ first four possessions. Garbers has completed three of six passes for a touchdown and an interception.
Will we see freshman Dante Moore under center at some point?
Carson Steele loses ball after a huge hit by Shilo Sanders
🏈 UCLA 7, Colorado 6 — 10:05 left in the second quarter
The Bruins missed a potential scoring chance when running back Carson Steele fumbled the ball after Colorado safety Shilo Sanders delivered a devastating shoulder hit on him at the end of an 18-yard carry. Cornerback Carter Stoutmire pounced on the ball at the Colorado 20.
UCLA takes lead on Carson Steele touchdown catch
🏈 UCLA 7, Colorado 6 — 14:19 left in the second quarter
Ethan Garbers connected on a three-yard pass to running back Carson Steele to help push UCLA into the lead.
After Colorado linebacker Jordan Domineck sacked Garbers on third down, the quarterback broke off a 13-yard run on fourth-and-12 to keep the drive alive. A Buffaloes penalty and a 10-yard run by TJ Harden set up the short touchdown pass, capping the nine-play, 60-yard drive.
The Bruins went three-and-out on its second possession but then held Colorado to three-and-out on its third possession this afternoon.
Colorado extends lead after UCLA turnover
🏈 Colorado 6, UCLA 0 — 7:44 left in the first quarter
Alejandro Mata kicked a 39-yard field goal — his second field goal of the game — to extend Colorado’s lead following a Travis Hunter interception.
After Ethan Garber was picked off on his second pass attempt, the UCLA defense held Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders in check, limiting the possession to 15 yards.
Early interceptions continue to plague UCLA quarterbacks
🏈 Colorado 3, UCLA 0 — 9:22 left in the first quarter
Early-game interceptions played a role in Dante Moore losing the UCLA starting quarterback job.
Ethan Garbers, starting this afternoon after a strong performance against Stanford, was picked off by Colorado two-way start Travis Hunter on his second pass attempt of the game.
Colorado takes early lead on field goal
🏈 Colorado 3, UCLA 0 — 10:46 left in the first quarter
Colorado capped its opening possession with a 31-yard field goal by Alejandro Mata to take an early lead. The field-goal try was nearly blocked by Kamari Ramsey, who appeared to run past the ball just before it was kicked.
The Buffaloes found some success against the Bruins’ vaunted defense before sputtering in the red zone. The 13-play, 62-yard drive was fueled by quarterback Shedeur Sanders completing seven of 10 passes for 62 yards.
Dave Roberts wouldn’t miss UCLA vs. Colorado
Dodgers manager and UCLA alumnus Dave Roberts is at the Rose Bowl for the Bruins’ homecoming game against Colorado this afternoon.
Steady does it for Ethan Garbers in stabilizing UCLA’s previously shaky offense
The template was unveiled in the late-night quiet of Stanford Stadium.
Pair steady, efficient play at quarterback with a punishing rushing attack and a steely defense. Maybe that’s all No. 23 UCLA (5-2 overall, 2-2 Pac-12) needs to win the rest of its games on a schedule that includes only one more ranked team, the rapidly crumbling No. 24 USC Trojans.
Ethan Garbers filled all those requirements at quarterback Saturday during the Bruins’ methodical 42-7 victory over Stanford. Making his first start since the season opener, the redshirt junior was poised and didn’t rush throws while patiently scanning the field for open receivers. When he couldn’t find any, or the pocket collapsed under pressure, he took off and ran.
‘It felt great.’ Ethan Garbers’ patience was rewarded as he led UCLA past Stanford
For three years now, Ethan Garbers has spent most of his time on the sideline waiting for his moment.
Beginning his UCLA career as the backup to a veteran, he played only in blowouts or as an injury replacement for two seasons. Just when it looked as if his patience might finally be rewarded, Garbers being anointed the starter going into this season, he was overtaken by a true freshman after a shaky showing in the opener.
Back into the shadows he went. More waiting. More doubts about whether any of this would lead to anything worthwhile.
“There were a lot of times where I just kind of wanted to … kind of quit a little bit,” Garbers acknowledged, “But hey, I got to keep my head straight, I got to keep moving ‘cause you never know what could happen.”
UCLA vs. Colorado five greatest games: Bruins were rarely Buffaloed
With USC and UCLA playing their final season in the Pac-12, The Times is revisiting the top five games in the history of each series. This week: UCLA-Colorado.
Oct. 25, 2014: No. 25 UCLA 40, Colorado 37 (2 OT)
This was a lot harder than it needed to be. Colorado was winless in Pac-12 play and had gone just 4-27 in conference games since moving over from the Big 12 in 2011. UCLA held leads of 17-0 and 31-14. And still, the Bruins needed two overtimes to prevail.
The squeamishness started after the Buffaloes outscored UCLA, 17-0, in the fourth quarter. After each team kicked a field goal in the first overtime, Colorado added another one to take the lead in the second overtime.
Thriving on the edge of destruction, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is an unstoppable force
Before each play, as he hovers menacingly near the line of scrimmage, Laiatu Latu must decide how he’s going to humiliate the guy standing across from him.
Does he go with a swim move, the UCLA edge rusher twisting his body before raising his arm above his head like he’s doing the breaststroke?
How about a double swipe, where he knocks down the offensive tackle’s arms multiple times?
Maybe he’ll go with his favorite, the Euro step. Like its counterpart in basketball, this move involves a head-fake and a step one way before cutting the other.
That was exactly how Latu made a 294-pound offensive tackle look like he was stuck in mud last weekend before wrapping his arms around Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels and dragging him to the ground.
Step aside, Coach Prime. Ethan Garbers could take center stage in UCLA vs. Colorado
So nice of everyone to drop by to see Ethan Garbers.
What’s expected to be UCLA’s biggest crowd of the season at the Rose Bowl presumably will watch Garbers make a second consecutive start at quarterback for the Bruins after his last was such a success.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders could become the headliner upstaged by the opening act if Garbers can engineer another victory. Just as Sanders’ Buffalo buzz is diminishing with three losses in his last four games, Garbers is trying to build a case for sustainability.