PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — UCLA’s protection sacked Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders seven occasions and the Twenty third-ranked Bruins broke open an in depth sport at halftime with three second-half touchdowns in a 28-16 victory over the Buffaloes.
UCLA coach Chip Kelly had a easy message for his group at halftime — get within the vacation spirit. On this case, the one on Tuesday and never looking forward to the one two months from now.
“I needed to remind our children that this was Halloween, not Christmas. We have to cease making a gift of items. And let’s simply ensure that it’s Halloween, so let’s put your scary masks on and go play,” Kelly stated.
After committing 4 turnovers within the first half, the Twenty third-ranked Bruins broke open an in depth sport with three second-half touchdowns and haunted Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders all night time en path to a 28-16 victory over the Buffaloes on Saturday night time.
UCLA (6-2, 3-2 Pac-12) led 7-6 at halftime, however scored touchdowns on three of its first 4 drives within the second half to take management. That helped flip the tide from a primary half the place they turned it over on 4 of their seven possessions, together with two within the pink zone.
The Bruins posted seven sacks in a sport for the primary time since 2019 and are fourth nationally with 31. 5 gamers have been credited with at the very least half a sack as linebacker Laiatu Latu led the best way with two.
It’s the third time this season Sanders has been sacked at the very least seven occasions in a sport. The Buffaloes (4-4, 1-4) have allowed 42 this season, essentially the most within the Soccer Bowl Subdivision in response to SportRadar.
Colorado coach Deion Sanders stated his son obtained a pain-killing injection at halftime.
“Most likely shouldn’t inform you that, however I’m 100. We’re going to present him the following few days off, as a result of I do know as soon as that block is off, he’s going to really feel it tonight. We’ve obtained to do a greater job defending him,” Deion Sanders stated.
Shedeur Sanders completed 27 of 43 for 217 yards and a landing. Alejandro Mata had three area objectives and Travis Hunter had a pair of interceptions.
It appeared as if a Sanders-coached group wouldn’t discover the tip zone for the primary time in his 4 seasons as a collegiate coach till Jimmy Horn Jr. caught an 18-yard TD with 2:37 remaining.
“We simply weren’t on the identical web page tonight, total, however we simply obtained to observe the movie and get higher,” Shedeur Sanders stated.
The Bruins obtained the second-half kickoff and went 75 yards in two performs, together with Garbers’ 26-yard landing move over the center to Moliki Matavao to make it 14-6 35 seconds into the third quarter.
“We got here in at halftime and we stated, ‘Hey, we’re letting our protection down a little bit bit and obtained to choose it up.’ We got here out (on) a two-play drive within the second half and scored,” stated Garbers, who was 20 of 27 for 269 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. “This offense has a bunch of resiliency. We all know tips on how to bounce again and when to bounce again.”
Garbers, who obtained his third begin this season, gave the Bruins a 7-6 lead early within the second quarter with a 3-yard TD move to Carson Steele.
T.J. Harden and Collin Schlee had fourth-quarter dashing scores. Logan Loya had seven receptions for 111 yards for the Bruins.
QUICK START
Colorado scored on its first two drives and took a 6-0 lead as Mata linked on area objectives from 31 and 39 yards. The Buffaloes had a brief area on their second possession after Hunter’s first interception on the UCLA 36-yard line.
“We performed towards among the best defenses within the Pac-12 and within the nation at the moment,” Deion Sanders stated. “We got here out and went proper down the sector and we didn’t get six, we obtained three, after which we got here again and obtained one other three. We confirmed some issues that we may do. The consistency simply isn’t there at this level due to the shortage of expertise at sure positions.”
ROLLERCOASTER QUARTER
Colorado security Shilo Sanders was ejected for focusing on late within the second quarter when his shoulder hit on UCLA tight finish Carsen Ryan linked to the chin and face masks space.
Sanders celebrated and flexed after the hit whereas penalty flags flew round him.
Earlier within the quarter, Sanders’ shoulder compelled Steele to fumble for UCLA’s second turnover of the half. The usually dependable Steele had two fumbles within the first half.
“He’s obtained to maintain it low. For those who preserve it low, there’s no query. I consider he was not in fault, as a result of he turned his shoulder,” Deion Sanders stated. “He was having a heck of a sport. He was dominant on the defensive facet of the ball. I used to be happy with him. I’m sorry this transpired, however I used to be happy with his effort.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Colorado: The Buffaloes have dropped 4 of their final 5 and could have a tricky highway discovering two wins the remainder of the best way in the event that they wish to get bowl eligible.
UCLA: The Bruins are the sixth group from the Pac-12 to turn into bowl eligible. It additionally marks the primary time since 2015 they’ve been bowl eligible in at the very least three straight seasons.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
UCLA ought to go up a pair spots because the Pac-12 ought to have at the very least six ranked groups for a ninth straight week.
