The No. 21 UCLA Bruins scored a big upset victory over No. 13 Oregon on Saturday afternoon, winning 17-15.
UCLA’s defense forced six turnovers: four fumbles and two interceptions. The Bruins also came up big with a two-point conversion stop that sealed the win.
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The Ducks were without starting quarterback Dante Moore, who is still nursing a concussion against USC. That’s why Oregon went with running back Dylan Raiola. The Nebraska transfer looked like a completely different quarterback this week.
In the last game against USC, Raiola threw for 289 yards and two touchdowns, taking over for Moore. This week against UCLA, the quarterback struggled, throwing for just 43 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also lost a fumble.
The Bruins defense held the Ducks to just 89 yards of offense and five first downs through three quarters. Head coach Dan Lanning subbed Raiola with 13 minutes left in the game, opting for third-string QB Thomas Brock.
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It seemed like Thomas would spark Oregon, helping lead the Ducks down the field. Then the Bruins started their sixth takeaway as Thomas fumbled on a fourth-down attempt.
UCLA’s defense helped Raiola in the first few games, but the team couldn’t turn it into offensive production. Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava left the game at halftime with a lower body injury.
Head coach Bob Chesney said Yamaleava was fine heading into the middle, but the QB didn’t return from the locker room at the start of the second half.
Yamaleava finally returned to the sideline when he left about a minute into the third quarter. The team ruled him for the rest of the game.
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Quarterback Ty Dieffenbach did enough to help UCLA cling to its lead. Wayne Knight helped the Knights score a short run early in the fourth quarter to seal the game. Knight finished with 103 yards and 22 carries on 22 days, and added a second TD through the air.
UCLA’s defense came up big again. After Oregon scored a touchdown, the Bruins were whistled for a penalty, setting up a two-point conversion at the yard line. It appeared that the Ducks would easily hit the rebound, but UCLA’s attempt slowed down the attack, keeping the lead doubled.
This was the Bruins’ first win over Oregon since 2004.
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The Bruins will now have to wait to hear how serious Jamaleva’s injury is. And when he first suffered, throwing him on the ground, he seized the calf. But then he went on a walk of his own, dropped one play, and for the last play before halftime, returned an interception in the Oregon end zone.
UCLA won one of its biggest games left on the schedule. The Bruins aren’t expected to pre-sign another team until Nov. 28, when they target USC, currently No. 19.
Next week, the Bruins will travel to the Wisconsin Badgers and hope Yamaleava is healthy.
Oregon hosts Nebraska as the Ducks hope to get Moore back under center.