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UCLA’s offense came alive in the second half Saturday night, powering the Bruins past San Diego State 28-10 in head coach Bob Chesney’s home debut at the Rose Bowl. The matchup remained scoreless through the first half, with both teams struggling to move the ball consistently and reaching halftime in a stalemate. The first significant offensive breakthrough didn’t occur until late in the second quarter when Brian Rowe Jr. caught a pass with under twelve minutes remaining in the half.
The game’s complexion changed dramatically after intermission. Running back Wayne Knight scored his first touchdown early in the third quarter on a rushing play, breaking open what had been a defensive showcase. UCLA’s passing attack produced 151 yards for the game compared to San Diego State’s 45 yards through the air. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava committed an interception in the end zone during the first half when he attempted a desperate pass from his back foot while under pressure near the goal line, a mistake both he and Chesney acknowledged needed improvement moving forward.
Knight’s performance in the second half proved decisive, as he recorded three total touchdowns with two coming in the fourth quarter. The explosive five-foot-seven running back added another scoring run of 36 yards late in the game. Jalvian Thomas contributed a one-yard touchdown rush between Knight’s fourth-quarter scores. San Diego State managed a field goal and one touchdown in the fourth quarter but couldn’t overcome UCLA’s dominant ground game. Chesney praised his team’s resilience, noting the Bruins showed grit and resolve to pull away after halftime despite an uninspiring first-half performance.
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Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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