UCLA proves its a playoff contender in thrilling win over Oregon to remain unbeaten - BERITAJA

EUGENE, Ore. — Sometimes the sequels are better.

In Bob Chesney’s return to Autzen Stadium aft Oregon knocked his James Madison squad retired of the College Football Playoff, his No. 21 UCLA Bruins met the infinitesimal and toppled the No. 13 Oregon Ducks 17-15 Saturday.

The triumph snapped UCLA’s 5 crippled losing streak against Oregon and was the Bruins’ first triumph successful Eugene since 2004. Chesney became the first UCLA caput coach to commencement his tenure 5-0.

“Really proud of our guys the measurement they vanished here,” Chesney told CBS connected the section aft the win. “It could person gone a batch of different ways. We near a batch of opportunities retired here, but successful the end, erstwhile we needed to make a play, the defense did that.”

Chesney said earlier successful the week that UCLA needed a “near-perfect” crippled to hit the Ducks. He was wrong. In a defining crippled that galore thought would expose issues masked by UCLA’s early-season success, the Bruins — though imperfect — vociferously announced their presence to the assemblage shot world arsenic morganatic playoff contenders.

Oregon turned the shot complete 7 times. With starter Dante Moore still recovering from a caput wounded he sustained against USC, Ducks backup backmost Dylan Raiola completed six of 19 passes for 43 yards and 2 interceptions earlier he was replaced by third-string backmost Brock Thomas, who went 11-of-15 passing for 156 yards, 1 touchdown and nary turnovers.

Although the halftime people wasn’t lopsided, UCLA dominated done 2 quarters. The Bruins earned 241 yards against Oregon’s 58. UCLA held a 162-36 advantage successful passing yards and a 79-22 separator successful rushing yards.

On 3rd downs, the Ducks were acold from the 50% conversion complaint they held entering the contest, going 0 for 7 successful the first half. Though UCLA wasn’t overmuch better, sitting astatine 1 for eight, its 10 first downs against Oregon’s 3 meant the Bruins possessed the shot 10 minutes much than the Ducks.

Averaging 3 forced turnovers entering Saturday, UCLA reached that number successful the first half, recovering 2 fumbles and intercepting Raiola once. Numbers apparently ne'er lie, truthful really were the Bruins up only four?

Because they couldn’t return attraction of the ball, either. Specifically, Nico Iamaleava struggled, fumbling erstwhile and presenting offerings to Oregon’s Koi Perich and Jerry Mixon. His fumble successful the first 4th connected UCLA’s one-yard statement instantly led to a Jordon Davison touchdown, and his 2 interceptions successful the last 2 minutes of the half were egregious, his 2nd occurring while the Bruins were successful field-goal range.

Unfortunately for Iamaleava, a chance astatine immoderate redemption successful the 2nd half did not materialize, arsenic he appeared to suffer a correct little limb wounded toward the extremity of the 2nd quarter. He stayed successful the locker room for about of the 3rd quarter, returning to the sideline successful thoroughfare clothes. CBS reported he shrugged erstwhile asked by the network’s sideline newsman if he was OK.

It didn’t thief that the Bruins couldn’t capitalize connected each opportunity, either. They scored connected conscionable 1 Oregon turnover.

A scoreless 3rd 4th ensued. Not wholly uneventful, however, arsenic UCLA forced different fumble and picked disconnected Raiola again, yet starring coach Dan Lanning to spell pinch third-string backmost Brock Thomas to statesman the 4th quarter.

Starting the 4th pinch beautiful section position, the Bruins needed 3 plays to score. Ty Dieffenbach recovered Wayne Knight for a nine-yard score, giving UCLA a 17-6 lead pinch conscionable complete 13 minutes left.

On Oregon’s adjacent possession, facing a fourth-and-one, UCLA stuffed Thomas, erstwhile again punching retired a fumble. A small complete 11 minutes remained arsenic a noticeable number of Oregon fans began heading toward the exits.

But the Ducks showed immoderate life. During a thrust bolstered by a 36-yard walk from Thomas to Dakorien Moore, Oregon nailed a section goal, cutting the lead to a possession.

The tide turned. Opening the adjacent possession connected its 43-yard line, Oregon needed conscionable 4 plays to find the extremity zone, pinch Thomas tossing a 44-yard touchdown walk to Evan Stewart. A grounded two-point conversion followed, but a UCLA look disguise punishment gave Oregon 1 much chance to necktie the score.

The Ducks failed, pinch Tyson Ford and Jalen Woods stuffing Thomas connected the one-yard line.

UCLA yet punted pinch 48 seconds remaining, pinning Oregon connected its ain 10-yard line. The Bruins’ defense withstood the Ducks’ last push and celebrated a signature triumph during a turnaround season.

Iamaleava vanished pinch 10-of-17 passing for 162 passing yards and 2 interceptions. Dieffenbach was 3 for six for 43 passing yards, 1 touchdown and nary turnovers.

Knight remained the cardinal to UCLA’s offense, finishing pinch 103 yards and a touchdown successful 22 carries and 3 catches for 12 yards and different touchdown.