Virtually a month into the year, UCLA’s toughest opponent proceeds to be the UC regents.
Colorado confirmed some early spunk Saturday right before rapidly folding, the winless Buffaloes contrary to that governing board that continues to be poised to threaten the Bruins’ transfer to the Large 10 Convention.
UCLA was so comfortably forward on the way to its 45-17 victory that quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson exited with 6 minutes remaining … in the third quarter. Buffaloes supporters experienced departed Folsom Area in droves by then, some quite possibly refusing to return until finally a new mentor paces their sideline.
In the meantime, UCLA followers would be forgiven for wondering about the importance of their team’s to start with 4- get started due to the fact 2015. The Bruins have crushed Bowling Inexperienced, Alabama State and South Alabama in addition to what could go down as one particular of the worst teams in Colorado’s 132 yrs of football.
The Buffaloes ended up outmanned, outmaneuvered and outsmarted in falling to -4. The Bruins sped their way to the blowout, gaining big chunks of yardage in what appeared like a snap of the fingers. Their very first touchdown travel went 64 yards in 2 minutes 37 seconds. Their second went 95 yards in 1:46. Their 3rd went 75 yards in 3:12.
By then, UCLA was up 21-3 and the only factor left to determine was the extent of the carnage throughout its first victory below given that 2014.
“Tempo was a big part of our activity strategy,” stated UCLA huge receiver Matt Sykes, whose 24-garden landing catch on his team’s opening push was the 1st rating of his vocation.
Bruins quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson stiff-arms Buffaloes safety Isaiah Lewis. Thompson-Robinson ran for 56 yards in 7 carries and threw for two touchdowns.
(David Zalubowski / Associated Push)
The main beneficiaries of the need for speed ended up Thompson-Robinson and operating back again Zach Charbonnet, who roamed as freely as Ralphie VI, the Buffaloes’ dwell mascot. Thompson-Robinson concluded 19 of 23 passes (82.6%) for 234 yards and two touchdowns when also frequently burning the Buffaloes on study-possibility runs that netted 56 yards in seven carries.
Charbonnet appeared like the classic version of himself for the 1st time given that the year opener, juking a single defender right after a further on the way to 104 yards and a few touchdowns. In a beautiful show of effectiveness, he averaged 11.6 yards in his nine carries.
“The Zach that you saw today,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly stated, “is the Zach that we have noticed for a prolonged time.”
Defensively, it was the most recent halt on the Laiatu Latu Comeback Tour. UCLA’s transfer linebacker who medically retired when at Washington in the spring of 2021 notched a vocation-superior three sacks and pressured a fumble that was recovered by teammate Bo Calvert. The Bruins poorly desired the elevate immediately after edge rusher Gabriel Murphy was ejected in the 1st quarter for focusing on.
UCLA linebacker Laiatu Latu provides down Colorado quarterback Owen McCown for a single of Latu’s three sacks Saturday.
(David Zalubowski / Affiliated Press)
UCLA’s protection was rarely fantastic. Cornerback Devin Kirkwood got burned on a 42-garden completion. Two roughing-the-passer penalties prolonged drives, just one heading for a Colorado touchdown. Averaging just 14 initially downs per activity right before Saturday, the Buffaloes experienced 11 by halftime.
But a predictable thing transpired in the 2nd half: UCLA dominated. The Bruins outscored the Buffaloes 24-7 and have overwhelmed their opponents by a 78-21 margin following halftime this season.
“In four possibilities, we have been the freshest group in the 2nd 50 %,” Kelly claimed. “ … You look at our conditioning, and I imagine it is shown up in four video games and I feel it’s element of what our DNA is suitable now.”
Colorado’s makeup is a distinctive story in what may be mentor Karl Dorrell’s remaining days.
There was some awkwardness prior to the match when Colorado lover selfies were revealed on the videoboard, a couple of like smiling faces as properly as the hashtag #firedorrell.
The perpetually conservative mentor confirmed some swagger on his team’s opening push in likely for it on fourth and a person at the UCLA 41-yard line. The Buffaloes converted, jogging back again Charlie Offerdahl attaining two yards, but were being at some point held scoreless when they missed a 54-yard area-aim check out.
Colorado coach Karl Dorrell seems on during the first half. The Buffaloes fell to -4 this period under the previous UCLA mentor.
(David Zalubowski / Linked Press)
The beleaguered Dorrell also exhibited some bravado — or desperation, just take your decide — in setting up freshman quarterback Owen McCown, the team’s third starter at the placement in 4 game titles. The son of previous NFL quarterback Josh McCown, Owen showed guarantee as properly as inexperience in completing 26 of 42 passes for 258 yards and 1 landing with just one interception.
Thompson-Robinson received to invest the last quarter-in addition resting for his team’s initially actual check of the period, Friday at the Rose Bowl towards No. 18 Washington. The Bruins could be the only team in the nation preventing for respect even with seven consecutive victories heading back again to final season.
They’re only times absent from showing irrespective of whether they have earned it.
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