The UCLA Bruins battled in the second half to defeat the Colorado Buffaloes 28-16. The Bruins persevered through four turnovers and two interceptions.
“Usually you don’t win football games when you have four turnovers,” said Bruins football head coach Chip Kelly. “I thought our defense was outstanding. We knew what a passing attack they had and how dynamic they were, not only at quarterback but at receiver.”
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders talks about the Buffs’ defense in their 16-28 loss to UCLA pic.twitter.com/eCpRAbya1F
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) October 29, 2023
UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers made 20 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns. Colorado signal caller Shedeur Sanders made 43 throws for 217 yards and one touchdown. Shedeur endured seven sacks in the effort.
“We got to do a better job of protecting [Shedeur], running the football, I know we have a couple linemen go down,” said Colorado head coach Deion Sanders. “But there’s no excuse, it’s gotta be next man up. So we got to have enough depth.”
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Shedeur noted how he had to quicken up his process.
“It was really frustrating because I just need to get feedback, just knowing what’s open and what’s not,” Shedeur said. “We just wasn’t on the same page.”
Sanders called Shedeur “the best quarterback in the country.”
“I don’t who else that they have in the Heisman running that takes the abuse he takes and gets back up,” Sanders said. “I don’t know if any of these guys could stand and deliver every week like he does.”
Coach Prime and the Colorado Buffs walk into the Rose Bowl ahead of their game against the UCLA Bruins pic.twitter.com/rFZiom0lXS
— Amanda Scurlock (@Amandtastic) October 29, 2023
A pivotal moment in the game was when safety Shilo Sanders tackled running back Carsen Ryan and was disqualified from the game for targeting. Sanders noted how he questioned the judgement of the referees while acknowledging the difficulties of their job.
“[Shilo] is one of the main communicators on the back end. That was one tremendous blow for us,” Sanders said. “He’s one of the leaders on the backside of the defense and he’s the enforcer, he’s the dog.”
Colorado leaped to a 6-0 start, scoring field goals on their first two possessions. Their second possession came from an interception by Travis Hunter which allowed the Buffs offense to start at UCLA’s 36-yard line.
The Bruins made advances on the ground via rusher T.J. Harden, giving them a first-and-goal opportunity. Garbers made a three-yard touchdown pass to Steele, putting UCLA up 7-6 over Colorado.
Midway through the second quarter, Collin Schlee came in as signal caller for the Bruins and was picked off by Hunter briefly after. The Bruin defense kept the Buffs in their territory.
Hunter finished the day with three receptions for seven yards and four total tackles.
“[Hunter] is gonna bounce back … he was coming off of injury and he was taking the offensive side of the ball a lot more seriously than he was taking the defensive side,” Sanders said. “He was prepared and ready today, he gave you a Travis Hunter performance.”
On the Bruins’ next offensive drive, Shilo got a targeting penalty and was disqualified. He had four solo tackles and one forced fumble. Sanders that he told Shilo to “keep it low” as he left the field.
“If you keep it low, it’s no question. I believe that he was not in fault because he turned his shoulder all around,” Sanders said. “He knows how to hit. I told him I was proud of him, he was having a heck of a game.”
UCLA had to settle for a field goal and missed.
The Bruins returned from halftime strong, scoring on their first drive. With 7:56 left in the third quarter, Shedeur advanced down the field with passes. A 45-yard bomb to wideout Xavier Weaver would put the Buffs in a first-and-goal situation but could only secure a field goal.
The Bruins’ running game was successful throughout the night, a 23-yard run by Harden got the Bruins into the Buffs’ redzone late in the third phase. He then scored on a three-yard touchdown run six plays later.
Harden ultimately had 20 carries for 78 yards in the matchup. UCLA scored one last rushing touchdown by the hands of quarterback Collin Schlee.
With minutes left in the game, Shedeur found targets to progress; he ultimately sent an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr.
UCLA now has a 6-2 overall record and a 3-2 Pac-12 record. Colorado fell to a 4-4 overall record and a 1-4 record in the League of Champions.
The Bruins will travel to battle the Arizona Wildcats on November 4 at 7:30P.M.
