LAS VEGAS — This wasn’t shut, it doesn’t matter what the scoreboard mentioned. This was a full-blown debacle.
Given an opportunity to shortly proper issues after a season-opening blowout loss, UCLA as an alternative doubled down on disappointment.
There was one other horrible begin. A protection that was sluggish and infrequently out of place. An offense couldn’t maintain drives till it was too late.
Even with an impressed comeback that fell quick after a Nico Iamaleava cross was tipped and intercepted with 52 seconds left, the Bruins’ 30-23 loss to Nevada Las Vegas on Saturday night time at Allegiant Stadium showcased most of the identical issues that had plagued them per week in the past.
After reviewing the footage of his group’s 33-point setback towards Utah, UCLA coach DeShaun Foster pinpointed all of the issues that almost went proper and mentioned his group was “close” to executing the performs it wanted to win.
The place are the Bruins now?
In a scary place. They’re 0-2 for the primary time since they misplaced their first three video games in 2019 on the best way to ending 4-8.
A 12 months after dropping two video games over the season’s first three months on the best way to serving to Tennessee attain the School Soccer Playoff, Iamaleava has already absorbed that many losses after two video games as a Bruin.
“I hate losing, man,” a watery-eyed Iamaleava mentioned after finishing 29 of 41 passes for 255 yards with one landing and one interception together with a 30-yard landing run. “So, you know, it’s a tough position to be in. But, you know, that tells us how much harder we gotta work.”
That effort begins on the high. A loss to a Mountain West Convention opponent will undoubtedly enhance the strain on Foster and lift extra questions early in his second season. Can his protection cease anyone? Why isn’t his offense extra productive, notably early in video games?
UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava passes towards UNLV within the first half of the Bruins’ 30-23 loss Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
(Ian Maule / Getty Photos)
Every week after falling behind, 20-0, the Bruins one way or the other fell right into a deeper gap once they confronted a 23-0 deficit late within the second quarter. Foster mentioned he had tried a number of issues in follow to spice up his gamers early in video games, to no avail.
UCLA’s 10 consecutive factors within the fourth quarter did little to salvage issues.
“I’m just frustrated,” Foster mentioned, “because when you know that you can execute better than we were and put together two halves like I wish we would have done and this outcome would have been different.”
Because of some questionable Rebels playcalling involving deep passes once they had been making an attempt to expire the clock, UCLA had an opportunity to power additional time or go for the win when it received the ball again at its personal 19-yard line whereas trailing by seven factors with a bit greater than two minutes left.
Iamaleava shortly moved the ball into Rebels territory. However destiny intervened when the quarterback tried to attach with Mikey Matthews over the center and his cross was tipped by Nevada Las Vegas’ Marsel McDuffie and intercepted by Aamaris Brown on the UNLV 13-yard line, ending the Bruins’ comeback hopes.
“Made a bad decision throwing it over the middle,” Iamaleava mentioned. “Guy tipped the ball, and, yeah man, I gotta be better.”
Tight finish Hudson Habermehl patted Iamaleava on the helmet because the quarterback got here off the sphere, although there was actually no comfort available after UNLV (3-0) beat a Huge Ten group for the primary time since topping Wisconsin in 2003. Rebels quarterback Anthony Colandrea was the largest Bruins nemesis, throwing for 203 yards and three touchdowns.
UCLA discovered itself confronted by a brand new fear towards UNLV.
Every week after logging solely three penalties, UCLA dedicated 14 for 129 yards, together with a number of that worn out huge performs. Iamaleava momentarily appeared to have related with Kwazi Gilmer for a landing within the third quarter earlier than it was worn out by offensive cross interference on Titus Mokiao-Atimalala, ultimately forcing the Bruins to kick a area purpose.
“Guys got to own it,” Foster mentioned of the shortage of self-discipline. “You’ve got to see what you did out there and did you put your best foot forward and are you thinking ‘we’ over ‘me.’”
Coincidence or not, UCLA’s offense began shifting the ball after making a swap alongside the offensive line within the second half. Garrett DiGiorgio took Courtland Ford’s spot at left sort out and Reuben Unije took DiGiorgio’s spot at proper sort out. Foster mentioned Ford was coping with an unspecified leg damage.
“There were some flashes in there,” Foster mentioned after his group outscored the Rebels 20-7 within the second half, “to see when this offense is hitting on all cylinders, we can move the ball and it’s going to be effective.”
UNLV appeared to have put the sport away with a landing early within the fourth quarter that gave the Rebels a 30-13 lead, however Iamaleava’s nifty landing run and one other area purpose gave the Bruins yet another probability after their protection received a cease to provide them the ball again.
They didn’t convert. Not even shut.
