UCLA goes five deep at QB in record-setting win over N.C. Central
Its starting quarterback no longer in doubt, UCLA faced a different dilemma Saturday: How far down the depth chart would it have to go to end this game as mercifully as possible?
Starter Dante Moore threw for a 67-yard touchdown on his first pass and exited with 9½ minutes left in the second quarter.
Backup Collin Schlee ran for a 57-yard touchdown on his first play and was in the game for only four drives.
Third-stringer Ethan Garbers completed a 13-yard pass on his first play, helping the Bruins roll up a 45-point halftime lead.
UCLA wraps up perfect nonconference record
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 7
After UCLA figured out its punt formation, North Carolina Central steadily ran out the clock with a few modest gains.
The Bruins closed their nonconference slate with a 3-0 start, giving five quarterbacks, a stable of running backs and a balanced defense time to shine.
Fourth-string quarterback Chase Griffin gets more snaps
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 0, 3:13 left in the fourth quarter
Chase Griffin, best known for building an elite NIL portfolio and donating some of the funds to charity, led the UCLA offense late in the fourth quarter of the blowout.
North Carolina Central stacked its defense against the run and the Bruins were setting up to punt before calling timeout to get organized.
NC Central breaks up the UCLA shutout
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 7 with 6:08 left it the game
Walker Harris finally hit the right spots and broke up the shutout, with Chris Mosley punching the ball in for a one-yard touchdown run. UCLA thought it had collected a fumble, but Mosley had reached the end zone and hit the ensuing extra point.
Fifth UCLA quarterback takes the field
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 0 with 13:21 left in the fourth quarter
Justyn Martin rushed for 15 yards, but the fifth-string quarterback couldn’t extend the drive and was sacked. UCLA went for it on fourth down, but the Bruins couldn’t pick up enough yards on the ground to get a first down and punted.
UCLA forces a takeaway
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 0 at the end of the third quarter
North Carolina Central can’t catch a break.
The Eagles strung together a few first downs under the direction of backup quarterback Walker Harris, but Choé Bryant-Strother forced Harris to fumble. Dovid Magna recoved the ball at the UCLA 38.
The Bruins then rolled out their fifth quarterback, with Ingelwood High alum Justyn Martin getting snaps.
Anthony Adkins tacks on another UCLA touchdown
No. 24 UCLA 59, NC Central 0, 3:36 left in third quarter
UCLA forced NC Central to punt again and rolled another quarterback out to run the offense.
Fourth-string signal caller Chase Griffin took the field, but the running backs continued to dominate the day.
Anthony Adkins rushed for 38 yards and Colon Yankoff added back-to-back carries for gains of six and 21 yards. Adkins was stuffed just short on second-and-goal at the one-yard line, but he punched the ball in on the next snap.
R.J. Lopez hit the extra point to extend the Bruins’ lead.
Collin Schlee rebounds from interception, Bruins score again
No. 24 UCLA 52, NC Central 0, 8:44 left in the third quarter
Collin Schlee stayed in the lineup for the Bruins, bouncing back with an 15-yard pass to Josiah Norwood. After putting another pass just out of bounds, Anthony Adkins rushed for 32 yards and Colson Yankoff added a 25-yard touchdown.
With the extra point, the Bruins extended their formidable lead.
UCLA defense continues to smother NC Central
No. 24 UCLA 45, NC Central 0, 11:44 left in the third quarter
Walker Harris’ pass on third-and-three on the North Carolina Central 32-yard line sailed out of bounds to close the Eagles’ first drive of the third quarter. UCLA notably only rushed three players on the snap, applying pressure while clogging passing lanes.
After a punt that went out of bounds at the UCLA 48-yard line, Collin Schlee took over running the UCLA offense. On third-and-10, Schlee tossed an interception and the Eagles took over at their 37-yard line.
The Bruins’ defense quickly backed up Schlee, forcing NC Central to go three-and-out.
And we’re back ...
After a break and a halftime show by the North Carolina Central Sound Machine marching band, the Eagles take the field for the opening drive of the third quarter.
UCLA avoids targeting call and maintains a first-half shutout
No. 24 UCLA 45, NC Central 0 at halftime
North Carolina Central flirted with a longer drive, but UCLA’s defense once again forced a punt. There was a review for targeting on one rushing play, but the Bruins were cleared of any violation.
Ethan Garbers led the offense again on the next Bruins drive, but the running backs continued to carve up the Eagles’ defense before time ran out in the second quarter.
New quarterbacks hit the field for both teams
No. 24 UCLA 44, NC Central 0, 4:33 left in the second quarter
Walker Harris took over at quarterback for North Carolina Central, but the UCLA defense closed the series the same way it did all the previous Eagles possessions — with a punt.
Ethan Gabers then stepped in at quarterback for UCLA, but he wasn’t on the field long. He completed one pass to Kyle Ford for 13 yards.
After a run for no gain and a false start, T.J. Harden took a high snap handoff and rumbled down field for a 62-yard touchdown. With the extra point, the Bruins extended their massive lead.
Dante Moore returns, Bruins settle for a field goal
No. 24 UCLA 38, NC Central 0 9:38 left in the second quarter
UCLA forced a punt to start the second quarter.
Dante Moore took back over at quarterback. He delivered a 30-yard pass to J.Michael Sturdivant despite getting hit as he released the ball.
Moore has had to throw a few more passes away under pressure on the drive, hurting his nearly flawless completion percentage, but he kept the UCLA offense moving up field.
North Carolina Central’s defense had its best stretch of the game and forced UCLA to settle for a 24-yard R.J. Lopez field goal.
UCLA dominates first quarter
No. 24 UCLA 35, NC Central 0, end of first quarter
We have reached the end of an absolutely dominant first quarter for the UCLA Bruins.
UCLA has 258 yards on 12 plays, averaging 21.5 yards per play. The Bruins are also averaging 20.0 yards per rush.
Starting quarterback Dante Moore is 4 of 5 passing for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Reserve quarterback Collin Schlee added two rushing touchdowns.
Carson Steele and Collin Schlee contribute to another quick scoring drive
No 24 UCLA 35, UCLA 0 with 2:18 left in the first quarter
After UCLA forced North Carolina Central to go three-and-out, Collin Schlee stayed in the game at quarterback.
He handed off the Carson Steele, who lined up with two other tailbacks and broke a run up the right side of the field with the help of two lead blockers. He gained 42 yards, falling three yards short of a touchdown.
Schlee ran up the middle for two yards on the next snap before the offensive line broke open enough room for Schlee to score the one-yard touchdown.
The Bruins hit the extra point and kept building on their lead.
Collin Schlee surprises with a touchdown run
No. 24 UCLA 28, NC Central 0, 5:27 left in the first quarter
UCLA coach Chip Kelly ran a designed package for reserve quarterback Collin Schlee, who faked a handoff and scampered for a 57-yard touchdown. UCLA hit the extra point to extend the Bruins’ commanding lead.
UCLA defense gets a quick stop
No. 24 UCLA 21, NC Central 0, 6:05 left in the first quarter
UCLA forced North Carolina Central to go three-and-out. Kain Medrano notably applied late pressure on Eagles quarterback Davius Richard, forcing him to lob a pass that was off target.
J.Michael Sturdivant delivers highlight touchdown catch
No. 24 UCLA 21, NC Central 0, 7:38 left in the first quarter
Carson Steele quickly gave the Bruins, pinned at their 12-yard line, breathing room with a 36-yard run.
A few plays later, Dante Moore connected with J.Michael Sturdivant, who managed to stay in bounds under pressure while hauling in the 30-yard touchdown pass. The Bruins hit the extra point to extend the lead.
Moore has completed 4 of 5 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Chip Kelly isn’t ready to officially name him the Bruins’ starting quarterback, but he sure looks like the starting quarterback and future of the UCLA offense.
Check out this fun Ben Bolch story about Steele and his pet alligator and this Bolch story that helps explain Sturdivant’s unique name.
UCLA defense forces a punt
No. 24 UCLA 14, NC Central 0, 10:02 left in first quarter
UCLA’s defense gave up two North Carolina Central first downs, including an 11-yard run by Davius Richard, before Darius Muasau delivered a tackle that stopped the Eagles short of a first down on third-and-six on the 50-yard line.
NC Central punted and UCLA took a fair catch at the 12-yard line.
Laiatu Latu interception sets up another UCLA touchdown
No. 24 UCLA 14, NC Central 0, 13:46 left in the first quarter
It’s shaping up to be a rough day for the North Carolina Central football team.
NC Central quarterback Davius Richard completed a pass for six yards, but he ran into heavy pressure on third-and-four at the Eagles’ 31-yard line. UCLA star lineman Laiatu Latu hauled in a interception and nearly ran it back for a touchdown, falling at the one-yard line.
Carson Steele stepped in and rushed for the one-yard touchdown, with R.J. Lopez hitting the extra point.
Dante Moore scores on first snap
No. 25 UCLA 7, NC Central O, 14:42 left in first quarter
UCLA freshman quarterback Dante Moore took the first snap of the game and immediately hit wide open Kam Brown for a 67-yard touchdown.
R.J. Lopez hit the extra point for the Bruins.
And we’re off ...
UCLA is favored to beat North Carolina Central by 35.5 points and has received the opening kickoff.
Chip Kelly doesn’t do load management. UCLA starters will play this week
A year later, “unavailable” was finally decoded.
UCLA coach Chip Kelly said he did not hold out players against an overmatched Football Championship Series opponent last September because of load management but because of injuries.
The topic came up because the No. 24 Bruins (2-0) are facing another FCS opponent Saturday when North Carolina Central (2-0) comes to the Rose Bowl. The Eagles can expect to face all of UCLA’s top players, according to Kelly, and if things go well for the Bruins, a lot of reserves as well.
Why playing North Carolina Central matters to UCLA’s Martin Jarmond
The scene that unfolded before the Jarmonds for North Carolina Central’s biggest football game of the season was always one that drew them back, year after year.
The high-stepping, vibrant bands. The impromptu reunions, fans running into former classmates they had not seen in years. The dramatic games that always seemed to come down to the final possession.
That’s just the way it was whenever NCCU played its archrival, North Carolina A&T. It was the Eagles versus the Aggies, and in the home of Martin Jarmond, it was mom versus dad in a battle of alma maters.
The game would be dubbed the Aggie-Eagle Classic or the Eagle-Aggie Classic, depending on the home team. Shunning that tradition, Matt Jarmond always called it the Aggie-Eagle Classic in a nod to his alma mater, A&T, never mind that his wife and mother both went to that other school.
The father’s fanaticism for the blue and gold rubbed off on his son to the point where young Martin just had to root for the Aggies, even if it forced him to hide his preference. Sitting near his mother, Virginia, the family matriarch dressed in the deep maroon of the Eagles, Martin would try not to show his true allegiance.
Read more >>>
Chip Kelly says he’s still committed to three QBs
Chip Kelly said it himself. Now he needs to live up to his own words.
“I think the way you keep your entire team happy is that you’re fair with everybody,” Kelly said in July at Pac-12 media day, “and then things are won on the field.”
By any objective measure, freshman Dante Moore has won the right to be UCLA’s starting quarterback. After splitting time with Ethan Garbers and slightly outperforming the redshirt junior in the season opener, Moore starred in his first start Saturday night against San Diego State.
In three quarters, Moore threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns — the latter statistic tying a school record for a true freshman — while showing the poise of a fifth-year senior during a 35-10 victory.
UCLA’s Dante Moore proves he’s worthy No. 1 QB, but Chip Kelly won’t commit
Dante Moore lingered on the field to make the celebratory rounds. He held up a hand to acknowledge the throng of UCLA fans jammed into one corner of the stadium as the band blared before heading toward the locker room.
As the freshman turned the corner into a tunnel, he spotted a young boy dressed in Bruins blue with his father just above a nearby railing. Moore reversed course, walking over to give the father his glove for the boy and delivering a fist bump to them.
It was a sweet gesture, from one kid to another.
UCLA vs. North Carolina Central: Five things to watch
Ready for Moore?
Dante Moore appears set for an encore after his dazzling debut as UCLA’s starting quarterback, never mind his coach’s continued refusal to say who’s going to take the first snap.
Barring something unexpected, Moore will be the guy Saturday afternoon when the No. 24 Bruins (2-0) face North Carolina Central (2-0) at the Rose Bowl.
Moore leads the nation’s true freshman quarterbacks with five touchdown passes. His 433 passing yards rank second, trailing only Florida International’s Keyone Jenkins (583). Not bad for an 18-year-old forced to split time with two veteran teammates.