UCLA Bruins Drop Season Opener to Colorado, 48-42
The Bruins looked much better in the second half, but there would not be another miraculous comeback tonight.
After a terrible first half, UCLA woke up in the second half tonight against Colorado, but it was too little, too late as the Bruins could not complete their comeback and fell 48-42 in the 2020 season opener.
In the first half, the Bruin defense gave up five touchdowns on eight Colorado possessions. Three of those scores came as the result of UCLA turnovers. The first turnover came on a Colorado punt when Kyle Philips fumbled. The Buffs recovered and promptly drove just 25 yard for the first score of the game.
On the Bruins’ next possession, DTR was picked by Carson Wells who returned the interception down to the UCLA 1. One play later, the Buffs made it 14-0.
After DTR hit Demetric Felton on a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:12 left in the first quarter to cut the Colorado lead to 14-7, the Buffs drove 76 yards on 10 plays and it was 21-7. Three plays later, Thompson-Robinson fumbled to give it back to Colorado, but the Buffs couldn’t do anything with it this time and they punted away.
But on UCLA’s first play back on the field, Demetric Felton put the ball on the ground and Colorado recovered on UCLA’s 7-yard line. Two plays later, Colorado scored again to make it 28-7. The Buffaloes second long drive of the half followed a UCLA punt and CU moved 70 yards on 6 plays to move ahead 35-7.
The final score of the half came with 4:44 left when DTR hit tight end Greg Dulcich for a 52-yard touchdown pass after Colorado’s safety left Dulcich wide open.
The Bruins came out quick to start the second half. Following a 10-yard pass to Philips, Thompson-Robinson scampered 65 yards for a touchdown.
On their next possession, UCLA scored again on a 4-yard run by DTR, which capped a 77-yard drive. That touchdown brought the Bruins to within seven as they now trailed 35-28.
The teams then traded a pair of 75 yard touchdown drives and it was 42-35, Colorado.
While the Bruin defense kept the Buffs’ offense out of the end zone for the rest of the game, the Buffaloes were forced to turn to their backup kicker for a 45-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter. That kick, along with a 36-yarder by Price in the fourth, would prove to be the difference in this one as UCLA was only able to muster a late touchdown in the final frame.
Unlike crosstown rival Southern Cal against Arizona State this morning, the Bruins were not able to recover an onside kick attempt with less than two minutes left and UCLA heads home with the 18th loss in 25 games under Chip Kelly.
Go Bruins.
Thanks again for supporting The Mighty Bruin. Your paid subscriptions make this site possible. Questions, comments, story ideas, angry missives and more can be sent to to @TheMightyBruin on Twitter.
I'm so tired of the sh!t show that is Chip's version of football. Luckily, I didn't have high hopes for the season. Can we just close this chapter? ps: "Coach" Azz should have been fired immediately after the game.
I wrote earlier that chip needed to go 4 & 2 with a win over SC. I believe Kelly needs to go now. DTR is not an above average QB. Move him to another position and give the back ups a change. He throws off his back foot and misses wide open receivers. Time to make changes.