It’s not like we didn’t know how this one was going to end up but at the beginning Colorado dialed up their longest drive of the season, 13 plays that started at their own 25 and ended on a 4th and 7 at the UCLA 36 where they tried to draw first blood with a 54 yard field goal—but missed. UCLA took over and 6 plays and 64 yards later, including a 28 yard QB keeper by Dorian Thompson Robinson and a 24 yard pass to Matt Sykes, the Bruins were up 7-0, but in the process lost Sophomore DL Jay Toia with what looked to be a knee injury. On Colorado’s next drive UCLA lost another, DE Gabriel Murphy, due to targeting. But it didn’t stop their offense that had to start at their own 5 yard line as the result of a great punt by Colorado’s Freshman Punter Trent Carrizosa. No problem—just seven plays and 95 yards later with the help of three passes by DTR, accounting for about 50 of those to three different receivers, the Bruins uber talented RB Zach Charbonnet broke free for a 35 yard run to the house to put UCLA up 14-0.
Colorado decided to change things up and go with Freshman Southpaw Owen McCown at QB, who up until this week was behind Sophomores Brendon Lewis and J.T. Shrout. Averaging just 10 points a game coming into this contest, McCown did run for a score and connected at the end of their longest drive of the season-14 plays for 85 yards-with an 8 yard TD pass to Freshman WR Jordan Tyson. Throw in a field goal and that’s all the scoring Colorado could muster–better than their average, but 17 total points wasn’t enough as the Bruins put up 45. McCown did connect on 26-of-42 for 258 yards and that one score along with a pick, but most of the time he was trying to avoid a very disruptive UCLA defense that recorded 68 tackles, 5 sacks, and 8 tackles for loss.
UCLA led from start to finish, 14-0 at the end of the 1st; 21-10 at the break; 38-10 at the end of three—winning 45-17. Bruin Senior QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson had a very efficient day connecting on over 80% of his passes for 2 TD’s, 234 yards, and no interceptions while also rushing 7 times for 56 yards. But on the ground it was Charbonnet that carried the majority of the mail, rushing 9 times for 104 yards and 3 TD’s. Collectively the Bruins rushed 34 times for 249 yards compared to 51 for the Buffaloes. UCLA outpaced the Buffaloes in 1st Downs, 25-19; Total Yards, 515-to-309; didn’t turn the ball over; and showed once again that they don’t have to have possession of the ball longer than their opponent in order to beat them on the score board—putting up 1.7 points per minute of possession.
According to the AP recap it’s been 16 years since Colorado started off their season 0-4. Last year a road trip to Arizona, the Buffaloes’ next opponent, would have been a relief but not the way the Wilddcats are playing this year. Up next for the Bruins, a short week where they’ll head back home to host Washington on Friday.