UCLA
1-0 , 0-0
Coastal Carolina
0-1 , 0-0
UCLA Holds Off Coastal Carolina, 27-13
September 02, 2023 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – The UCLA football team used big plays on offense, defense, and special teams, and dominated the fourth quarter to hold off a pesky Coastal Carolina team for a 27-13 season-opening victory on Saturday evening at the Rose Bowl. It marked the Bruins' third-consecutive season-opening home win.
Redshirt junior quarterback Ethan Garbers got the starting nod, just the second of his career, and went 10-for-17 for 121 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Freshman Dante Moore completed 7-of-12 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Bruins outgained the Chanticleers, 417 to 345 in total yards of offense, thanks to 153 rushing yards, compared to just 56 by Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers had the edge in passing yards, 289-264. On the ground, both sophomore T.J. Harden (11 carries) and junior Carson Steele (13 carries), rushed for 76 yards apiece. Steele also had four receptions for 20 yards and one touchdown.
Redshirt sophomore J.Michael Sturdivant had five catches for 136 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore Carsen Ryan had one catch for 21 yards that also went for a score.
The Bruins only ran 60 plays (compared to 77 by CC) thanks to a 34:50 time of possession for Coastal Carolina (compared to 25:10 for UCLA). Both teams committed three turnovers.
Defensively, the Bruins racked up 10 tackles for loss, including three sacks by senior Laiatu Latu. Latu also forced one fumble that led to one of the Bruins' three takeaways. Redshirt junior Gabriel Murphy also had a sack. Redshirt senior Darius Muasau had a team-high nine total tackles (seven solo) and one tackle for loss.
Garbers got the Bruins off to a great start, driving the Bruins down the field for a seven-play, 78-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 21-yard TD reception by Ryan (the first touchdown of his career). Garbers drove the Bruins down the field in his second drive (12 plays, 72 yards), but threw an interception in the end zone.
UCLA still led 7-0 after that pick, but Coastal Carolina engineered a 16-play, 75-yard drive that ended with the Chanticleers settling for a 22-yard field goal at the 11:12 mark of the second quarter to trim the Bruins' lead to 7-3. After the Bruins' next drive ended in a punt and the UCLA defense forced a three-and-out punt, Moore, the highly touted freshman entered the game as the Bruins' signal caller. Like Garbers, Moore marched the Bruins down the field on his first drive. The six-play, 61-yard drive ended with a 14-yard touchdown reception by running back Steele. The Bruins led 14-3 with 3:57 to go in the second quarter.
Coastal Carolina drove 51 yards in 13 plays on its next possession, but the Bruins' defense forced the Chanticleers to settle for another field goal (41 yards) in the red zone as time expired to cut the Bruins' lead to 14-6 at the break.
The Chanticleers got the ball first to open the second half and quickly cut the lead to 14-13 on a nine-yard strike from Grayson McCall to Sam Pinckney at the 10:08 mark of the third. Garbers got the start for the Bruins in the second half and was hit on his throwing arm on the fourth play of the drive that resulted in his second interception. But UCLA's defense stiffened up on the next possession and got its first takeaway of the game when Jaylin Davies recorded the fourth interception of his career.
Coastal Carolina led in total net yards through three quarters, 333 to 266, but the Bruins held a slight 14-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter. Facing a third-and-four on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Chanticleers dialed up a quarterback keeper, but the Bruin defense was up to the challenge. Jay Toia and Muasau combined to tackle McCall and the subsequent 55-yard field goal attempt was wide right. Moore returned under center for the Bruins and in a span of one play and eight seconds, he hit Bruin speedster Sturdivant in stride for a 62-yard touchdown reception. The Bruins led 21-13 with 13:59 remaining.
After the Bruin defense forced just the second three-and-out of the game, Moore drove the Bruins down the field, but was intercepted in the end zone by Clayton Isbell. It was Isbell's third interception of the game. But on the very next play, UCLA's John Humphrey returned the favor and picked off McCall for the first INT of his career. The Bruins were able to convert that turnover into three points after senior kicker R.J. Lopez hit a 31-yard field goal with 5:39 to go to give UCLA a 24-13 advantage. After receiving the ball back on downs, Lopez hit a 47-yard field goal (3:26) to provide the 27-13 final.
The Bruins will be back in action on Sept. 9 when they travel to Snapdragon Stadium to take on the San Diego State Aztecs. The game will be televised on CBS and be available on AM 1150 Radio and is slated for a 4:30 p.m. PT kickoff.
Team Stats
CCU 0, UCL 7
UCL - Ryan,Carsen 21 yd pass from Garbers,Ethan (Lopez,R.J. kick) 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 01:59
CCU 3, UCL 7
CCU - Gray,Liam 22 yd field goal 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 06:33
CCU 3, UCL 14
UCL - Steele,Carson 14 yd pass from Moore,Dante (Lopez,R.J. kick) 6 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:36
CCU 6, UCL 14
CCU - Gray,Liam 41 yd field goal 13 plays, 51 yards, TOP 03:57
CCU 13, UCL 14
CCU - Pinckney,Sam 9 yd pass from McCall,Grayson (Gray,Liam kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:52
CCU 13, UCL 21
UCL - Sturdivant,J.Michael 62 yd pass from Moore,Dante (Lopez,R.J. kick) 1 plays, 62 yards, TOP 00:08
CCU 13, UCL 24
UCL - Lopez,R.J. 31 yd field goal 7 plays, 17 yards, TOP 02:27
CCU 13, UCL 27
UCL - Lopez,R.J. 47 yd field goal 4 plays, 3 yards, TOP 00:59
