UCLA
1-4 , 0-3
Penn State
5-0 , 2-0
UCLA Football Drops 27-11 Decision at No. 7 Penn State
October 05, 2024 | Football
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. โ The UCLA football team dropped a 27-11 decision at No. 7 Penn State in front of 110,047 at Beaver Stadium in a Big Ten Conference game on Saturday afternoon.
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The Bruins (1-4, 0-3 Big Ten) fell behind by a 14-3 margin at halftime against Penn State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten), finishing the contest having totaled 260 net yards. Penn State jumped ahead 27-3 with 8:17 to play in regulation before UCLA scored a touchdown and ensuing two-point conversion in the game's final minute.
Playing their third road game in five contests, the Bruins went up against a top-20 ranked opponent for the third consecutive Saturday (previously at No. 16 LSU and at home versus No. 8 Oregon).
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Bruins' redshirt sophomore quarterback Justyn Martin completed 22 of 30 passes for 167 yards and one touchdown in his first-ever collegiate start. Running back T.J. Harden finished with five receptions for 59 yards, while wide receiver Logan Loya tallied six catches for 57 yards.
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Penn State totaled 385 net yards on Saturday afternoon, including 237 yards through the air and 85 on the ground. Junior quarterback Drew Allar completed 17 of 24 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. Junior running back Kaytron Allen led the Nittany Lions' rushing attack with 78 net rushing yards on 21 carries.
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Penn State was 7-for-12 against UCLA on third-down opportunities, while the Bruins were 6-for-15 on third-down situations. In addition, the Bruins finished 2-for-4 on fourth-down opportunities.
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The Bruins scored on two of their three red zone opportunities at Penn State, kicking a 25-yard field goal late in the second quarter to cut the Nittany Lions' margin to 14-3, before the late touchdown in the final quarter.
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UCLA's 16-play, 73-yard drive in the game's final minutes helped the Bruins close the final gap to 27-11. Martin found Loya in the end zone for a one-yard touchdown pass with 16 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The ensuing two-point conversion was a two-yard pass up the middle from Martin to running back Keegan Jones.
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Flashing back to the first quarter, the Bruins' defense held strong on Penn State's first two offensive drives, forcing punts after three plays and six plays, respectively. Penn State punched through with touchdowns on back-to-back drives late in the second quarter.
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The Nittany Lions got on the board with a one-yard touchdown carry by Allar with 6:40 to play in the second quarter, capping a 16-play and 82-yard drive. After UCLA sophomore kicker Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 25-yard field goal at the 2:51 mark (second quarter), Penn State drive down the field in eight plays to score their second touchdown of the afternoon. Allar completed a five-yard touchdown pass to senior tight end Tyler Warren, helping the Nittany Lions secure a 14-3 advantage.
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Penn State added a 25-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, before Allen rushed into the end zone on a one-yard carry late in the period to put the Nittany Lions ahead, 24-3. Penn State's Ryan Barker kicked his second field goal of the day, a 40-yard attempt with 8:17 to play, to put his team ahead, 27-3.
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Bruins' linebacker Carson Schwesinger totaled a career-best 15 tackles against Penn State, including six solo tackles and one-half tackle for loss. Linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo had 10 total tackles, one quarterback sack and two tackles for loss (TFL).
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UCLA fell to 4-3 in the all-time series against Penn State, as the two teams faced off for the first time since 1968. Saturday's game at Penn State marked the Bruins' third road contest of the season and their first-ever Big Ten road game.
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UCLA will return to action at home against Minnesota on Saturday, Oct. 12, in a Big Ten Conference showdown at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. The Bruins' game against Minnesota will begin at 6 p.m. (PT) and will be televised on Big Ten Network.
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Team Stats
UCL 0, PSU 7
PSU - Allar,Drew 1 yd run (Barker,Ryan kick), 16 plays, 82 yards, TOP 08:36
UCL 3, PSU 7
UCL - Bhaghani,Mateen 25 yd field goal 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:49
UCL 3, PSU 14
PSU - Warren,Tyler 5 yd pass from Allar,Drew (Barker,Ryan kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:31
UCL 3, PSU 17
PSU - Barker,Ryan 25 yd field goal 7 plays, 39 yards, TOP 04:02
UCL 3, PSU 24
PSU - Allen,Kaytron 1 yd run (Barker,Ryan kick), 5 plays, 58 yards, TOP 02:26
UCL 3, PSU 27
PSU - Barker,Ryan 40 yd field goal 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 03:00
UCL 11, PSU 27
UCL - Loya,Logan 1 yd pass from Martin,Justyn (Jones,Keegan pass) 16 plays, 73 yards, TOP 07:56
