SAN DIEGO, Calif. – UCLA Football displayed staunch defense and explosive offense in its 35-10 victory over San Diego State on Saturday. The Bruins move to 2-0 on the season, capturing their first road win of the 2023 season.
True freshman quarterback Dante Moore made his first-career start at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, putting on an impressive performance against the Aztecs. Moore finished the outing with 290 passing yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as the Bruins routed San Diego State.
UCLA outpaced the Aztecs on offense, amassing 550 total yards to San Diego State's 259. The Bruins held the Aztecs to just 63 rushing yards while running for 254 of their own. UCLA has yet to allow more than 65 rushing yards in a game this season.
Team defense was on full display in San Diego. The Bruins sacked the Aztecs three times and made 10 tackles for losses. UCLA only allowed 3.6 yards per play, and San Diego State averaged just 1.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Bruins forced four consecutive turnovers late in the game; defensive back Alex Johnson came away with two interceptions on the day.
UCLA got the job done on offense despite nearly 10 fewer minutes of possession. The Bruins ran 68 plays in 25:05; the Aztecs possessed the ball for 34:55.
The Bruins put up a brick wall to start the game, forcing two three-and-outs on consecutive possessions to stop any Aztec attempt at momentum to begin the game. The Aztecs punted to end both drives. Moore started to get comfortable during the third drive of his first start. On the first play of the drive, Moore connected with redshirt senior Josiah Norwood up the middle. The wide receiver split the defense and tore away for an 81-yard reception to the house, putting the Bruins on the board first.
The Aztecs answered on the following drive, making their way 75 yards in nine plays to tie it at seven apiece. Bruins were on the right side of a pair of pass interference calls to help march down field on the following drive before the first quarter ended.
UCLA's run game got active to start the second quarter – with Moore under center and a yard to go on a fourth down, the freshman quarterback handed it off to junior running back Carson Steele for an uncontested 13-yard rushing touchdown. Steele scored on the first play of the second quarter, slowly building UCLA's lead. After forcing another punt, UCLA started a new drive on its own 32-yard line. The Bruins handed it off to sophomore rusher T.J. Harden; he ran it up the middle for a gain of six yards. Harden got the pigskin in his hands the next down, gaining three yards to put UCLA in a third-and-one situation. The Bruins went right back to Harden, who found a gap up the middle and broke off for 59 yards and a touchdown.
After the Bruin defense forced another three-and-out, the offense barreled towards the endzone before the half. UCLA strung together three quick first downs – Moore connected with senior Kam Brown for one, rushed for another, then threw to redshirt sophomore Moliki Matavao for a 35-yard reception deep in Aztec territory. The freshman quarterback took advantage of a confused San Diego State defense shortly after, finding senior Logan Loya open in the endzone with 1:20 left in the first half. The Bruins scored 21 points in 18 plays during the second quarter.
Moore had 227 yards and two touchdowns at the break. The Bruins led 28-10.
The third quarter saw a flurry of turnovers; three consecutive drives ended with a turnover after a clean first half. Redshirt senior Alex Johnson intercepted an Aztec attempt with 8:46 on the clock. The Bruins sustained a penalty that started their drive on their own 15-yard line. Moore was sacked and fumbled; San Diego State recovered the ball at the one-yard line.
The Bruins stood fast with their backs against the wall, denying the first two Aztec attempts on the goal line. On third down, a scrambling Aztec offense tried to sneak a pass into play, but the ball hit off the intended receiver's hands and popped into the air. Redshirt senior Darius Muasau tracked it as it floated down, and the linebacker came away with his first interception of the 2023 campaign.
UCLA relied on the running back room as it made its way back down field. Steele and Harden combined for 40 of the 80 yards on the drive, which resulted in Moore's third touchdown of the game. Moore found sophomore Carsen Ryan with a sidearm toss, and the running back made his way into the endzone untouched. The Aztecs were held scoreless in the third quarter, and UCLA was up 35-10 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The Bruins stonewalled San Diego State on the first drive of the final frame and forced a turnover on downs. Redshirt junior quarterback Collin Schlee took the field in a Bruin uniform for the first time during the fourth quarter. He finished 1-for-2 with six passing yards and 35 rushing yards after three drives. UCLA was scoreless in the fourth but shut out San Diego State to claim a 25-point margin of victory.
The Bruins are back in action against North Carolina Central next Saturday, Sept. 16, in Pasadena Calif., at the Rose Bowl. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. PT and will be broadcast to Pac-12 Los Angeles.
True freshman quarterback Dante Moore made his first-career start at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, putting on an impressive performance against the Aztecs. Moore finished the outing with 290 passing yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions as the Bruins routed San Diego State.
UCLA outpaced the Aztecs on offense, amassing 550 total yards to San Diego State's 259. The Bruins held the Aztecs to just 63 rushing yards while running for 254 of their own. UCLA has yet to allow more than 65 rushing yards in a game this season.
Team defense was on full display in San Diego. The Bruins sacked the Aztecs three times and made 10 tackles for losses. UCLA only allowed 3.6 yards per play, and San Diego State averaged just 1.9 yards per rushing attempt. The Bruins forced four consecutive turnovers late in the game; defensive back Alex Johnson came away with two interceptions on the day.
UCLA got the job done on offense despite nearly 10 fewer minutes of possession. The Bruins ran 68 plays in 25:05; the Aztecs possessed the ball for 34:55.
The Bruins put up a brick wall to start the game, forcing two three-and-outs on consecutive possessions to stop any Aztec attempt at momentum to begin the game. The Aztecs punted to end both drives. Moore started to get comfortable during the third drive of his first start. On the first play of the drive, Moore connected with redshirt senior Josiah Norwood up the middle. The wide receiver split the defense and tore away for an 81-yard reception to the house, putting the Bruins on the board first.
Carson Steele finds pay dirt on fourth down for the go-ahead TD!
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 10, 2023
UCLA 14, San Diego State 7
14:56 – 2nd quarter
??: CBS
??: https://t.co/mcwVB0LuYi#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/1wfbqvq4vU
The Aztecs answered on the following drive, making their way 75 yards in nine plays to tie it at seven apiece. Bruins were on the right side of a pair of pass interference calls to help march down field on the following drive before the first quarter ended.
UCLA's run game got active to start the second quarter – with Moore under center and a yard to go on a fourth down, the freshman quarterback handed it off to junior running back Carson Steele for an uncontested 13-yard rushing touchdown. Steele scored on the first play of the second quarter, slowly building UCLA's lead. After forcing another punt, UCLA started a new drive on its own 32-yard line. The Bruins handed it off to sophomore rusher T.J. Harden; he ran it up the middle for a gain of six yards. Harden got the pigskin in his hands the next down, gaining three yards to put UCLA in a third-and-one situation. The Bruins went right back to Harden, who found a gap up the middle and broke off for 59 yards and a touchdown.
T.J. Harden to the house ??
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 10, 2023
UCLA 21, San Diego State 7
10:21 – 2nd quarter
??: CBS
??: https://t.co/mcwVB0LuYi#GoBruins pic.twitter.com/e9SFk2nbZN
After the Bruin defense forced another three-and-out, the offense barreled towards the endzone before the half. UCLA strung together three quick first downs – Moore connected with senior Kam Brown for one, rushed for another, then threw to redshirt sophomore Moliki Matavao for a 35-yard reception deep in Aztec territory. The freshman quarterback took advantage of a confused San Diego State defense shortly after, finding senior Logan Loya open in the endzone with 1:20 left in the first half. The Bruins scored 21 points in 18 plays during the second quarter.
Moore had 227 yards and two touchdowns at the break. The Bruins led 28-10.
The third quarter saw a flurry of turnovers; three consecutive drives ended with a turnover after a clean first half. Redshirt senior Alex Johnson intercepted an Aztec attempt with 8:46 on the clock. The Bruins sustained a penalty that started their drive on their own 15-yard line. Moore was sacked and fumbled; San Diego State recovered the ball at the one-yard line.
The Bruins stood fast with their backs against the wall, denying the first two Aztec attempts on the goal line. On third down, a scrambling Aztec offense tried to sneak a pass into play, but the ball hit off the intended receiver's hands and popped into the air. Redshirt senior Darius Muasau tracked it as it floated down, and the linebacker came away with his first interception of the 2023 campaign.
PICKED! ?? The Bruins take it back! @UCLAFootball pic.twitter.com/jQBu0XtRYa
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2023
UCLA relied on the running back room as it made its way back down field. Steele and Harden combined for 40 of the 80 yards on the drive, which resulted in Moore's third touchdown of the game. Moore found sophomore Carsen Ryan with a sidearm toss, and the running back made his way into the endzone untouched. The Aztecs were held scoreless in the third quarter, and UCLA was up 35-10 with 15 minutes left on the clock.
The Bruins stonewalled San Diego State on the first drive of the final frame and forced a turnover on downs. Redshirt junior quarterback Collin Schlee took the field in a Bruin uniform for the first time during the fourth quarter. He finished 1-for-2 with six passing yards and 35 rushing yards after three drives. UCLA was scoreless in the fourth but shut out San Diego State to claim a 25-point margin of victory.
The Bruins are back in action against North Carolina Central next Saturday, Sept. 16, in Pasadena Calif., at the Rose Bowl. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2 p.m. PT and will be broadcast to Pac-12 Los Angeles.