UCLA
Virginia
UCLA Defeats Virginia in Season Opener
September 05, 2015 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – Freshman Josh Rosen completed 28 of 35 passes for 351 yards and three touchdowns in his collegiate debut Saturday, leading No. 13 UCLA past Virginia, 34-16, before 68,615 at the Rose Bowl.
Rosen, UCLA's first true freshman to start at quarterback in a season opener, had a record-setting afternoon under center. He established new school single-game highs for a true freshman in completions (28), attempts (35) and passing yards (351), breaking records previously set by Cade McNown in 1995.
True freshman running back Soso Jamabo led the Bruins with nine rushing yards on 79 carries.
UCLA held Virginia (0-1) to just seven points after halftime, limiting the visiting Cavaliers to 158 net yards in the second half. Virginia quarterback Matt Johns finished the afternoon having completed 21 of 35 passes for 238 yards and one touchdown.
In all, the Bruins compiled 503 total yards, including 351 through the air.
UCLA (1-0) overcame an early 3-0 deficit and led throughout the contest, securing a 17-9 lead by halftime. Rosen completed 17 of 22 passes for 175 yards before intermission, hitting nine different receivers.
The Bruins outscored Virginia by a 14-0 margin in the third quarter, scoring on a pair of short yardage plays. Leading 17-9, Myles Jack had a one-yard touchdown carry to push UCLA's lead to 22-9 (7:37). Less than four minutes later, Rosen hit Kenny Clark with a 3-yard pass at the 3:40 mark, putting the Bruins ahead 31-9.
Midway through the final quarter, a 39-yard run by Jamabo set up an eventual 21-yard field goal by Ka'imi Fairbairn to give UCLA a 34-9 advantage (7:05).
While UCLA controlled the game throughout, Virginia took the game's first lead on a 42-yard field goal from Ian Frye with 9:14 left in the first quarter. The Bruins quickly answered on their second offensive drive. Rosen threw a four-yard pass to Devin Fuller with 2:32 left in the opening quarter to lead, 7-3.
After Virginia answered with Frye's second field goal of the day, UCLA pushed its cushion to 14-6 on a 30-yard strike from Rosen to Thomas Duarte with 7:37 remaining in the second quarter. Rosen's second touchdown pass completed a 7-play, 75-yard drive.
Frye nailed his third field goal with 1:37 to play in the second quarter. Leading 14-9, UCLA answered with two seconds to play before halftime with a 26-yard field goal from Fairbairn.
