UCLA 20-17 Iowa (November 8, 2024) Game Recap

PASADENA, Calif. – UCLA knew it had a challenge with Kaleb Johnson, the second-best runner in the country.

Not only did the Bruins cause Johnson to post his worst rushing performance of the season, but UCLA’s ground game finally got out of first gear.

TJ Harden had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season and Ethan Garbers threw two touchdown passes as the Bruins cruised to a 20-17 win on Friday night.

Carson Schwesinger had two interceptions to help UCLA win its third straight.

“We went into this week knowing it was a challenge and we were ready for it,” Schwesinger said.

Harden passed for 125 yards on 20 carries, the fourth time the junior eclipsed the century mark in his career. His 15-yard gain up the middle after the two-minute timeout gave UCLA a first down and iced the game.

“I knew I had to have a game like that. We saw the opportunity we had to get the ball to them,” Harden said. “We did a great job picking up blocks consistently.”

The Bruins were 415-265 yards total, including 211-80 rushing.

Johnson, who averaged 142.1 rushing yards per game, had a season-low 49 yards on 18 carries.

“In short: they played the ball extremely efficiently, but we didn’t. I really think they played the way they want to play,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Quarterback Brendan Sullivan sprained his ankle in the third quarter after taking a hit from UCLA linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo on a pass that was intercepted by Schwesinger. Jackson Stratton entered the game and led the Hawkeyes with a 13-play TD drive, capped by left tackle Kamari Moulton’s 2-yard run off left tackle, to tie the score at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter to reach.

Mateen Bhaghani’s 27-yard field goal with 4:49 left gave the Bruins the lead for good. Bhaghani also made the second-longest field goal in school history from 57 yards out early in the second quarter.

“We came out and really executed what we wanted to do,” coach DeShaun Foster said. “They took pride in wanting to surpass them, and we did that.”

Garbers, who completed 21 of 34 passes for 204 yards, led the Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) to victory despite three turnovers in the first half. His two interceptions in the first quarter, including one in the end zone, led to 10 Iowa points. The senior also had a fumble at the Iowa 3-yard line that was recovered by Jaden Harrell in the end zone as the Bruins came up empty in the red zone twice in the second quarter.

Garbers rallied the Bruins with two TD passes in the second quarter.

After Bhaghani’s first field goal, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala tied it midway through the second quarter with a 2-yard reception set up by Schwesinger’s first pick at the Iowa 45. Garbers then hit a wide-open Logan Loya for a 29-yard touchdown with 55 seconds left in the first half.

“I didn’t start the game the way I wanted with the ball losses. We moved the ball up and down the field well. I knew everything was there and continued to trust our guys,” Garbers said.

Iowa took a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game on Johnson’s 2-yard run. It was the first time the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown on their opening drive this season.

It was also the junior’s 21st touchdown of the season, setting the Hawkeyes’ single-season records for touchdowns and points.

“Obviously a disappointing result for us. “I just got done basically telling the team one thing in football: you usually get what you deserve and we certainly didn’t play well enough to win in basically any category tonight,” Ferentz said. after Iowa fell to 6-4 and 4-3 in the conference. “So disappointing and nothing really worked out for us.”

The takeaway food

Iowa: The Hawkeyes lost for just the third time in 22 games in November since 2019.

UCLA: After going 1-5 at halftime, the Bruins are hoping to gain bowl eligibility with three straight wins. That would be quite a turnaround after people had already expressed doubts about Foster, the first-year coach.

Next

Iowa: November 23rd in Maryland.

UCLA: Next Friday in Washington.

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