UCLA played its most complete game of the season so far today as the Bruins completely dismantled Maryland on the road.
While the first quarter was slow without much offense from either team, the Bruin running backs took over in the second quarter, running for 105 yards in the period.
The third play of the second quarter saw Wayne Knight take off up the middle for a 45-yard touchdown run as UCLA took a 7-0 lead.
On UCLA’s next drive following a Terrapin punt, the Bruins did it again. The second play of the drive saw Knight scamper for 33 yards down the right sideline to the Maryland 28. A facemask penalty moved the ball halfway to the goal down to the 14.
The next play was a handoff to Anthony Woods who was stopped just short of the end zone at the Terrapins’ 1-yard line. Woods ran it again on the next play which looked like the same play that Knight scored on, just to the right side instead of the left. UCLA now led 14-0.
Following another Maryland punt, the Bruins moved 72 yards on six plays down to the Terrapin 3-yard line. That’s when Jaivian Thomas joined the party with a short touchdown run. A bad snap meant the conversion was unsuccessful and UCLA now led 20-0.
With 1:23 to go in the half Maryland got on the board with their only points of the game on a 37-yard field goal by Sean O’Haire and UCLA led 20-3 at the half.
In the first half, the Bruin defense had allowed -1 yard rushing and just 89 yards passing while the offense had 119 yards rushing and 110 yards passing.
Maryland quarterback Malik Washington finally threw two touchdown passes in the third quarter. Unfortunately for the Terrapins, both of those passes were interceptions which Ta’Shawn James and Scooter Jackson each returned for Bruin touchdowns. James’ return was 39 yards long while Jackson’s pick six was a 65-yarder. The third quarter ended with UCLA up 34-3.
It was the first time UCLA had scored two pick sixes in the same quarter since August 30, 2014 when Ishmael Adams and Eric Kendricks did it against Virginia in Charlottesville. There must be something in that DMV water.
Mateen Bhaghani began the fourth quarter with a 40-yard field goal.
After another Maryland punt, UCLA began their next drive on their own 16. Anthony Woods gained two yards on first down. On second down, just as Nico Iamaleava was about to be hit by a Terrapin defender, he found Aidan Mizell at the Bruin 26 and Mizell snuck across the field and down the right side for a 83-yard touchdown to pu UCLA up 44-3.
That play was Nico’s last of the game as his brother Madden came in following the fourth Malik Washington interception of the game. A 37-yard Bhaghani field goal put the Bruins ahead 47-3.
After yet another Terrapin punt, UCLA took over on their own 17. On Troy Leigber’s fifth consecutive carry of the drive, he broke through for a 63-yard touchdown run for UCLA’s final touchdown of the game as the Bruins won 54-3.
UCLA finished with 266 yards rushing on 39 carries with four touchdowns while Nico was 15-of-24 for 209 yards and one touchdown. The Bruin defense turned the ball over five times including a forced fumble by Scott Taylor.
Maryland managed just 39 yards rushing for the entire game while Malik Washington finished 18-of-38 for just 142 yards passing. In fact, UCLA’s 152 interception return yards, actually means that Washington threw for more yards to Bruin defenders than he threw to his own receivers. Ouch.
Don’t be surprised if Mike Locksley is not on the sideline when Maryland plays Nebraska next week.
As for the Bruins, following what should be a joyous flight home, they will have a week to heal up before facing the Ducks in Eugene on October 10.
We’ll see how much respect UCLA gets in the polls tomorrow.
Go Bruins!!!
Best UCLA performance in recent memory. Leigber my favorite Bruin of the game because I had the over and I thought we'd just run out the clock. All in for HC BC.
UCLA hired an excellent and classy coach. SC is paying $11 million a year for a used Lincoln.