UCLA
0-3
Fresno State
2-1
Bruins Topped by Fresno State, 38-14
September 15, 2018 | Football
PASADENA, Calif. – Quarterback Marcus McMaryion rushed for four touchdowns and passed for 270 yards to lead Fresno State to a 38-14 win over UCLA on Saturday night at the Rose Bowl.
UCLA (0-3) trailed 16-14 in the second half before the visiting Bulldogs (2-1) surged with 22 unanswered points to close out the contest.
Freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson led the Bruins in both passing (151 yards) and rushing (49 yards). Senior safety Adarius Pickett led the defense with 13 tackles.
Fresno State's offense came out firing in the first quarter, finding the end zone twice on two consecutive lengthy drives to start the game. McMaryion capped off the Bulldogs opening drive with a one-yard touchdown run, finishing off the 13-play, almost five minute drive. On FSU's next possession, McMaryion connected with tight end Jared Rice for a 47-yard completion, setting up tight end Kyle Riddering's 10-yard touchdown catch moments later.
A 28-yard field goal from Asa Fuller made it 16-0 in favor of Fresno 43 seconds into the second quarter, but the Bruins got on a roll after that, outgaining the Bulldogs 122-30 for the remainder of the half and scoring 14 unanswered points to get back into the game.
UCLA broke through and put its first points on the board at the 9:44 mark of the second quarter. Moments after Thompson-Robinson found junior wide receiver Theo Howard for a 6-yard completion to convert on fourth-and-3, the duo connected on a big downfield pass, with Howard shaking his defender and finding himself wide open for a 45-yard touchdown reception.
Howard ended the night as UCLA's top receiver, totaling 80 yards on four catches.
Howard's score was set up by a clutch defensive play in the previous possession, as UCLA linebacker Keisean Lucier-South was able to get to McMaryion unobstructed on a rush, batting the ball out of his hand for a fumble that was ultimately recovered by UCLA linebacker Odua Isibor.
Less than a minute into the second half, FSU's KeeSean Johnson muffed a punt deep in his own territory, allowing the Bruins to take over with an extremely short field. Senior running back Bolu Olorunfunmi capitalized on that field position, punching it in from two yards out for his fourth rushing touchdown of the campaign and cutting the deficit to two.
That was ultimately as close as the Bruins would get, as Fresno State responded with 22 unanswered points to cement the result. McMaryion passed for 147 yards on seven completions in the second half and rushed for another two touchdowns to lead the Bulldogs.
UCLA's Stefan Flintoft uncorked a 70-yard punt in the second quarter, the Bruins' longest punt since the 2011 season.
UCLA will return to action at Colorado on Friday, Sept. 28, opening Pac-12 play. That game will be televised on FS1 and is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (PT).
Team Stats
FS 6, UCLA 0
FS - MCMARYION, M. 1 yd run (FULLER, Asa kickfailed), 13 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:57
FS 13, UCLA 0
FS - RIDDERING, Kyle 10 yd pass from MCMARYION, M. (FULLER, Asa kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:52
FS 16, UCLA 0
FS - FULLER, Asa 28 yd field goal 6 plays, 27 yards, TOP 2:02
FS 16, UCLA 7
UCLA - Howard, Theo 45 yd pass from Thmpsn-Robinson (Molson, Jj kick) 5 plays, 43 yards, TOP 1:38
FS 16, UCLA 14
UCLA - Olorunfunmi, B. 2 yd run (Molson, Jj kick), 3 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:09
FS 24, UCLA 14
FS - MCMARYION, M. 1 yd run (JAVERNICK, G. pass), 8 plays, 73 yards, TOP 3:16
FS 31, UCLA 14
FS - MCMARYION, M. 1 yd run (FULLER, Asa kick), 5 plays, 51 yards, TOP 2:20
FS 38, UCLA 14
FS - MCMARYION, M. 2 yd run (FULLER, Asa kick), 7 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:12
