That is dangerous.
There’s no different method to spin it for UCLA after a 3rd consecutive loss throughout what was presupposed to be the mushy a part of the schedule raised a daunting prospect: Will the Bruins win a sport this season?
They didn’t look able to beating a top quality highschool crew after dropping a second consecutive sport to a Mountain West Convention opponent.
UCLA’s 35-10 loss to New Mexico on Friday night time on the Rose Bowl represented a attainable new low after the Bruins as soon as once more seemed misplaced on either side of the ball.
Followers began streaming out of the stands in earnest after New Mexico working again Damon Bankston turned a brief move right into a 43-yard landing with simply greater than seven minutes left, breaking a few tackles alongside the best way.
UCLA isn’t solely 0-3 for the primary time since 2019, the Bruins haven’t held a lead this season after falling into one other massive gap on an evening they had been 15½-point favorites.
A bye week earlier than opening Large Ten play on the street in opposition to Northwestern will definitely result in an extended record of questions for UCLA coach DeShaun Foster after his document fell to 5-10 early in his second season.
Among the many attainable queries: How does he account for a crew that seems as dangerous on offense as protection after including star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, the largest identify within the switch portal? Can he rally his crew for one victory throughout a season by which it won’t be favored the remainder of the best way?
The Bruins had been staring into the abyss after Bankston ran for a two-yard landing that put the Lobos up 21-10 with 10:42 left within the sport.
It solely acquired worse from there, after issues had tilted within the Bruins’ route earlier within the third quarter.
UCLA large receiver Mikey Matthews is upended by New Mexico cornerback Jon Johnson (12) and security Caleb Coleman within the first half Friday on the Rose Bowl.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Instances)
UCLA pressured its first turnover of the season at a most opportune time.
With New Mexico (2-1) dealing with a fourth and one on the Bruins’ five-yard line, Deshaun Buchanan ran for 2 yards earlier than having the ball stripped by UCLA security Key Lawrence. Bruins defensive finish Devin Aupiu recovered the fumble to thwart the drive.
The Bruins quickly benefited from one other Lobos mistake after their subsequent drive led to a three-and-out. Will Karoll’s punt was muffed and recovered by Kyle Miller on the UCLA 41.
UCLA finally drove for Mateen Bhaghani’s 51-yard area purpose that shaved the Bruins’ deficit to 14-10 late within the third quarter, however solely after left deal with Garrett DiGiorgio was known as for false begins on back-to-back performs.
Consistent with an early season custom, UCLA discovered itself down by a number of scores earlier than posting its first factors. After trailing 20-0 in opposition to Utah and 23-0 in opposition to Nevada Las Vegas, the Bruins fell behind 14-0 in opposition to the Lobos after displaying extra leaky protection and sputtering offense.
New Mexico damage UCLA with each the run and the move, following Scottre Humphrey’s one-yard run with Jack Layne’s eight-yard landing move to tight finish Simon Mapa on fourth and two early within the second quarter.
Boos may very well be heard contained in the stadium as followers contemplated the opportunity of the Bruins falling to a second Mountain West Convention opponent in a six-day span.
Extra embarrassingly, the Large Sky Convention’s official Twitter web site responded to a put up jokingly saying that UCLA was reportedly exploring a transfer to its convention by responding, “No thank you.”
Lastly countering thanks partially to a roughing the passer penalty on the Lobos, UCLA lastly acquired on the board when Iamaleava zipped a 12-yard landing move over the center to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala halfway by way of the second quarter.
The Bruins then generated their largest defensive play of the season after Robert Stafford III fell down in pursuit of Bankston on what changed into a 43-yard run. On fourth and one on the UCLA three-yard line, the Bruins stuffed Layne on a keeper to power a turnover on downs.
However UCLA’s 14-7 halftime deficit may need not been its most unpleasant quantity after the Bruins dedicated eight penalties for 76 yards by then, displaying they’d not cleaned up the various errors they’d made final week in opposition to Nevada Las Vegas.
