The San Diego State Aztecs lost to the UCLA Bruins 35-10
San Diego State #18 Jalen Mayden (QB) rolls to his left trying to avoid getting sacked by several UCLA Bruins defenders chasing him. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
SAN DIEGO, CA -The UCLA Bruins from the Pac-12 Conference travel to play the Mountain West Conference San Diego State Aztecs, and when the dust settled, they won 35-10 with a strong performance by the freshman, quarterback Dante Moore, who threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns.
Jalen Mayden, the starting quarterback for San Diego State, was being pressured all night, completing 19 of his 37 passes for 196 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.
Bardy Hoke, the head coach for San Diego State, was very disappointed about the play and their coaching and spoke on it after the game.
"Tonight was really disappointing. I am disappointed in our coaching, and in how we reacted to situations. We didn't play as well as we are capable. I give them credit. They're a good football team. There's no question about it. But look at the end, the last four minutes of the second quarter, first half, there were opportunities that we didn't follow through. Then, in the third quarter, there were 14 points that were left out there. Then, in the end zone, after the fumble on the one and on a third down and one later, I thought we definitely had some momentum there. We got first down and thought we were going to score. We have to learn from this one because next week is just as difficult. We're talking about Oregon State as a good team, a hell of a football team. We've only been able to watch them one time so far in Corvallis, the new stadium, and what they've done there is something that they're all proud of, so it'll be a hell of a crowd. We have to get better this week. We have to make sure that we're all on the same page. We have to play better, we have to coach better. Coach better, then play better."
UCLA Bruins #3 Dante Moore (QB) throwing a touchdown pass to his wide receiver Josiah Norwood. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
The San Diego State Aztecs on defense stopped the UCLA Bruins on offense in their first two possession. The Bruins's third possession of the game was their lucky charm, as Dante Moore, on the first play of the drive, threw an 81-yard touchdown to Josiah Norwood to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.
San Diego State #83 Meiki Shaw (WR) is making a catch on the sideline. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
The Aztecs, on their next possession, were driving downfield, and moments later, Jaylen Mayden, after driving their offense downfield for 75 yards on nine plays, threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Meiki Shaw to tie the game 7-7.
The Bruins would march down to the Aztecs’ 13-yard line with a fourth and one, and Carson Steele broke the endzone line to give the Bruins a 14-7 lead, capping off seven plays and 75 yards to start the second quarter.
With a third and one, UCLA scored again with a 69-yard touchdown run from T.J. Harden to push their lead up to 21-7 with 10:21 left in the second quarter. San Diego State was at UCLA's 25-yard line after a 16-yard run by Kenan Christon.
The Bruins got a brake when the Aztecs wide receiver Joshua Nicholson dropped a touchdown pass in the endzone from Mayden and had to settle for a 44-yard field goal by Jack Browning to trail 21-10.
Moore would set the Bruins up with good field position after throwing a 35-yard pass to Moliki Matavao to the Aztecs 24-yard line. On the next play, Moore threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Logan Loya to give the Bruins a 28-10 lead at halftime.
Mayden completed 10 of his 18 passes in the first half for 113 yards and one touchdown. Moore for UCLA completed 11 of 19 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
UCLA on the ground had 131 yards rushing and 358 total yards, compared to San Diego State's 39 yards rushing and 152 total yards in the first half.
UCLA Bruins #36 Alex Johnson (S) intercepting a pass thrown by San Diego State’s quarterback Jalen Mayden intended for San Diego State #83Meiki Shaw (WR). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1.
In the third quarter, Mayden was about to be sacked and threw a shovel pass to Christon for 16 yards, and UCLA was flagged for a late hit to put the ball on their 40-yard line. On third and sixth, Mayden threw a pass pick-off by the Bruins's Alex Johnson (S).
San Diego State's defense came up with a defensive stop after Moore from UCLA fumbled the football and recovered by Trey White at the one-yard yard line. The Bruins would make up for that turnover when Mayden threw a pass and was pick-off in the endzone by Darius Muasau (LB) for a touchback.
With 2:05 left in the third quarter, UCLA would strike again with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Moore to his tight-end Carsen Ryan to lead 35-10.
The Aztecs’ defense came up with a fumbled recovery in the fourth quarter when Colson Yankoff lost the ball at their 11-yard line and recovered by Zyrus Fiaseu (LB).
The Bruins's defense came up with another turnover after Mayden threw another pass that was pick-off by Alex Johnson and returned to UCLA's 40-yard line. That would seal the deal, and the Bruins would improve their record to (2-0).