LOS ANGELES – UCLA Football routed North Carolina Central Saturday afternoon in Pasadena, Calif., with an explosive run game, besting the Eagles 59-7 in the matchup at the Rose Bowl.
True freshman quarterback Dante Moore picked up the start for the second-consecutive week. Moore completed eight of his 12 attempts, throwing for 182 yards and two touchdowns before handing off the reigns.
Redshirt-juniors Collin Schlee and Anthony Adkins scored their first touchdowns with the Bruins, both rushing to score for UCLA. Adkins led the Bruins in total rushing yards, recording 96 yards in the game. Redshirt-freshman Justyn Martin also took his first snaps as a Bruin during the victory.
UCLA's rushers proved dominant as the Bruins ran for more than 400 yards, outpacing NCCU 404-103. Saturday's running performance marks the most rushing yards by UCLA since it recorded 402 yards against Arizona State in 2022. Five Bruins recorded rushing touchdowns in the win; UCLA last scored six rushing touchdowns against Arizona in 2015.
The defense stayed locked in throughout the game, denying NCCU from moving downfield. UCLA stopped the Eagles on 11 of their 16 third-down attempts, and the Bruins held North Carolina Central to 3.6 yards per play.
The Bruins came out firing in the first quarter, scoring on the first play of the drive each of UCLA's first two possessions. Moore connected with senior wide out Kam Brown for a 67-yard touchdown reception. The play marked Moore's third passing touchdown of 60+ yards this season.
An interception by senior Laiatu Latu set the Bruins up on their opponent's goal line to start the next drive. On the first play of that possession, junior running back Carson Steele punched his way into the endzone from the one-yard line. Steele helped move the chains on the following drive before Moore delivered air mail to redshirt-sophomore J. Michael Sturdivant. The QB launched a 30-yard dime into the corner of the endzone to extend the Bruin lead to 21-0.
Schlee checked in for the fourth drive of the game. The quarterback wanted in on the first-play scoring action, so he broke off down the left sideline for a 57-yard run to the house on a QB keep. Schlee rushed for a second touchdown behind a bulldozing Bruin offensive line to put UCLA up 35-0. UCLA's 35 points in the period mark new record highs for first-quarter scoring and points in a single quarter by the Bruins.
Senior kicker R.J. Lopez nailed a 24-yard field goal on the first drive of the second quarter to keep things moving for the Bruins. UCLA sophomore running back T.J. Harden also got on the board with a 62-yard rush to the endzone in the period. The Bruins headed into halftime leading 45-0.
After the break, UCLA had its first turnover of the game as the Eagles picked off an errant pass by Schlee. On the next drive, redshirt-senior running back Colson Yankoff recorded his first touchdown of the 2023 season when he split off to the left for a 25-yard run to the endzone. The Bruins kept the ground game going; Adkins rushed up the middle for a one-yard touchdown with 3:36 left in the third.
North Carolina Central got on the board with 6:08 left in the game, squashing UCLA's hopes of a home shutout. The last time UCLA held an opponent scoreless at the Rose Bowl was against Oregon during the 2007 season. The Bruins did not score during the fourth quarter.
The Bruins return to action next Saturday, Sept. 23, against No. 12 Utah. UCLA travels to face the Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT; the game will be broadcast on Fox.
True freshman quarterback Dante Moore picked up the start for the second-consecutive week. Moore completed eight of his 12 attempts, throwing for 182 yards and two touchdowns before handing off the reigns.
Redshirt-juniors Collin Schlee and Anthony Adkins scored their first touchdowns with the Bruins, both rushing to score for UCLA. Adkins led the Bruins in total rushing yards, recording 96 yards in the game. Redshirt-freshman Justyn Martin also took his first snaps as a Bruin during the victory.
UCLA's rushers proved dominant as the Bruins ran for more than 400 yards, outpacing NCCU 404-103. Saturday's running performance marks the most rushing yards by UCLA since it recorded 402 yards against Arizona State in 2022. Five Bruins recorded rushing touchdowns in the win; UCLA last scored six rushing touchdowns against Arizona in 2015.
The defense stayed locked in throughout the game, denying NCCU from moving downfield. UCLA stopped the Eagles on 11 of their 16 third-down attempts, and the Bruins held North Carolina Central to 3.6 yards per play.
The Bruins came out firing in the first quarter, scoring on the first play of the drive each of UCLA's first two possessions. Moore connected with senior wide out Kam Brown for a 67-yard touchdown reception. The play marked Moore's third passing touchdown of 60+ yards this season.
An interception by senior Laiatu Latu set the Bruins up on their opponent's goal line to start the next drive. On the first play of that possession, junior running back Carson Steele punched his way into the endzone from the one-yard line. Steele helped move the chains on the following drive before Moore delivered air mail to redshirt-sophomore J. Michael Sturdivant. The QB launched a 30-yard dime into the corner of the endzone to extend the Bruin lead to 21-0.
Dante ?? J.Michael for the 30-yard TD connection??
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 16, 2023
UCLA 21, NCCU 0
7:38 – 1st quarter
??: P12LA
??: https://t.co/v42BPkDwhA#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/qYPp7P0K8M
Schlee checked in for the fourth drive of the game. The quarterback wanted in on the first-play scoring action, so he broke off down the left sideline for a 57-yard run to the house on a QB keep. Schlee rushed for a second touchdown behind a bulldozing Bruin offensive line to put UCLA up 35-0. UCLA's 35 points in the period mark new record highs for first-quarter scoring and points in a single quarter by the Bruins.
Senior kicker R.J. Lopez nailed a 24-yard field goal on the first drive of the second quarter to keep things moving for the Bruins. UCLA sophomore running back T.J. Harden also got on the board with a 62-yard rush to the endzone in the period. The Bruins headed into halftime leading 45-0.
HARDEN TO THE HOUSE! ??
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 16, 2023
The Bruins' third scoring play of 50+ yards!
UCLA 45, NCCU 0
4:34 – 2nd quarter
??: P12LA
??: https://t.co/v42BPkDwhA#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/wqKtYi2L3z
After the break, UCLA had its first turnover of the game as the Eagles picked off an errant pass by Schlee. On the next drive, redshirt-senior running back Colson Yankoff recorded his first touchdown of the 2023 season when he split off to the left for a 25-yard run to the endzone. The Bruins kept the ground game going; Adkins rushed up the middle for a one-yard touchdown with 3:36 left in the third.
North Carolina Central got on the board with 6:08 left in the game, squashing UCLA's hopes of a home shutout. The last time UCLA held an opponent scoreless at the Rose Bowl was against Oregon during the 2007 season. The Bruins did not score during the fourth quarter.
The Bruins return to action next Saturday, Sept. 23, against No. 12 Utah. UCLA travels to face the Utes in Salt Lake City, Utah, with kickoff scheduled for 12:30 p.m. PT; the game will be broadcast on Fox.