UCLA
0-1
Cincinnati
1-0
UCLA Defeated by Cincinnati, 26-17
September 01, 2018 | Football
LOS ANGELES – A fourth quarter safety proved decisive in Saturday's football season opener, as UCLA was topped 26-17 by visiting Cincinnati at the Rose Bowl.
Tied 17-17 with less than 10 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, the Bearcats made the pivotal play of the game by stripping the ball from UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson around the five yard line. After a couple bounces, the ball was recovered in the Bruin end zone for a safety, giving Cincinnati a decisive edge.
The visitors added on seven insurance points at the 1:44 mark, as running back Michael Warren II converted on fourth and goal for his third score of the day.
"These guys [now] have a game underneath their belt," said UCLA head coach Chip Kelly. "We can go back and teach and show them what we did well. We can continue to build from there, and then what we need to correct. That will be an ongoing process for this group. There were a lot of firsts for everybody."
Thompson-Robinson finished the game as UCLA's top passer, completing 15 of 25 passes for 117 yards. Starting quarterback Wilton Speight was forced out of the game in the second quarter after taking a hard hit while scrambling to the left of the pocket.
Junior wide receiver Theo Howard finished as the Bruins' top pass catcher, totaling five receptions and 52 yards.
UCLA took a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter thanks in part to an impressive showing on the defensive side of the ball.
UCLA limited the Bearcats offense to just 21 yards over its first three drives, knocking starting quarterback Hayden Moore out of the game.
Junior defensive lineman Rick Wade made the play of the opening quarter for the Bruins, sacking Moore on the first play of Cincinnati's second drive and knocking the ball loose for a fumble that allowed UCLA to take over on the Bearcats' 13 yard line.
Senior running back Bolu Olorunfunmi took advantage of that short field and found pay dirt for the Bruins, first rushing for four yards to put the home team into a first and goal situation, then punching it in with a one yard run up the middle.
UCLA extended its lead to 10-0 on its final drive of the first quarter. Taking over after a three-and-out at their own 45, the Bruins pushed the ball up 25 yards to set up a long field goal for junior kicker JJ Molson, who knocked down the 47-yard attempt for the second longest conversion of his career (previous: 49 yards).
Cincinnati found its offensive rhythm in the second quarter, putting 17 unanswered points on the board to take the lead heading into halftime. After mustering just 25 yards in the air and 11 on the ground in the first quarter, Desmond Ridder took over at quarterback and went 5-7 for 48 yards while running back Michael Warren II carried 10 times for 49 yards including a pair of one yard touchdown runs. Warren II ended the contest with 141 rushing yards on 35 carries.
Just over a minute into the second half, UCLA freshman running back Kazmeir Allen took a handoff out of the shotgun formation, rushed to his right then found a hole and busted loose for a 74-yard touchdown run that tied it up at 17-17. The sprint was UCLA's longest rush from scrimmage since Paul Perkins on Oct. 31, 2015 (vs. Colorado, 82 yards).
Paired with a first quarter rush that went for 23 yards, Allen ended the day with 103 yards on five carries, giving him the second-most debut rushing yards by a freshman in school history.
The Bruin defense returned to its early-game form in the third quarter, forcing punts on all four Cincinnati drives and holding the Bearcats to just 54 yards.
UCLA returns to action next Saturday, Sept. 8, at Oklahoma. The game, televised by Fox, is scheduled for a 10:00 a.m. PT kickoff.
Team Stats
CIN 0, UCLA 7
UCLA - Olorunfunmi, B. 1 yd run (Molson, Jj kick), 4 plays, 13 yards, TOP 0:56
CIN 0, UCLA 10
UCLA - Molson, Jj 47 yd field goal 7 plays, 25 yards, TOP 3:22
CIN 7, UCLA 10
CIN - WARREN, Michael 1 yd run (SMITH, Cole kick), 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 7:00
CIN 14, UCLA 10
CIN - WARREN, Michael 1 yd run (SMITH, Cole kick), 7 plays, 27 yards, TOP 3:00
CIN 17, UCLA 10
CIN - SMITH, Cole 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:59
CIN 17, UCLA 17
UCLA - Allen, Kazmeir 74 yd run (Molson, Jj kick), 2 plays, 78 yards, TOP 1:04
CIN 19, UCLA 17
CIN - TEAM 0 yd safety
CIN 26, UCLA 17
CIN - WARREN, Michael 1 yd run (SMITH, Cole kick), 9 plays, 36 yards, TOP 4:02
