On a chilly Saturday night, the UCLA Bruins went cold.
The Wildcats pounced on the Bruins early with a pair of touchdowns to open the game, stunning the home crowd of 44,430 attendees. In the second half, the Bruins bent more and broke less by surrendering 13 points, compared to the 21 they gave up in the first half. However, their late efforts fell short, similar to how Jake Bobo did when he could not reach a desperation heave, ending the game 34-28.
🤯 @ArizonaFball UPSETS NO. 12 UCLA 💪 pic.twitter.com/wYfOgl5g80
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 13, 2022
As Arizona Wildcats quarterback Jayden de Laura scanned downfield on a fourth down with over six minutes remaining, his team was down by four points. They needed a conversion and score to regain command of the game. Fortunately for them, receiver Tetairoa McMillan found open space between three Bruins defenders in the endzone, eventually receiving a pass to generate a 31-28 lead. That deficit was never overcome.
HE’S LIKE THAT. 👏 @TMAC96795 #Wildcats back on top!!!
📺 FOX#AZvsUCLA | #RiseWithUs pic.twitter.com/OBsfX2VNVf
— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 13, 2022
Fittingly, de Laura was gifted with nearly five seconds in a considerably clean pocket on the game-winning play. Time to throw was a sight he often found as the Bruins’ defensive woes cost them. The Wildcats ran the ball effectively, completed quick screens, and exploited UCLA’s inability to tackle cleanly.
The Murphy twins, Grayson and Gabriel, appeared as one of a few bright spots on defense, each contributing with one sack. However, inconsistent pressure on passing attempts proved fatal for the Bruins. When the front four finally created duress for de Laura, his improvisation ability came to his aid, essentially omitting their presence.
Offensively, after two short-lived drives started the game, Zach Charbonnet kickstarted the Bruins with a score. He stayed productive all night with vigorous runs barreling past defenders.
Charbonnet ran the ball 24 times, resulting in 181 yards, and found the end zone for three of the Bruins’ four touchdowns. Dorian Thompson-Robinson also moved the ball by throwing for 245 yards and a touchdown. Both of their efforts were not enough, though.
Multiple outlets labeled the game a potential ‘trap’ before the matchup, and the Bruins fell into it. The loss moves them to 8-2 before facing a crosstown rival, the USC Trojans (9-1), next week. They also drop to fourth overall in the PAC-12, with a 5-2 conference record.
A win next week could help the Bruins regain momentum, but it may not feel as sweet as it could have for their fans after Saturday’s upset loss.
