Ty Dieffenbach threw for one touchdown and rushed for another, and the defense forced three interceptions in the first quarter in a 27-0 rout of Nevada on Saturday as the Bruins improved to 8-0 for the first time since 2005.
asserted
Bruins → throw → 2005
“To get yourself to 8-0 is a big deal and to shut a team out at any level is a big deal,” first-year coach Bob Chesney said.
asserted
Chesney → get → level
“There’s a lot of work that still needs to go into this thing and we got to get better.
asserted
we → ’ → thing
It was UCLA’s first shutout at the Rose Bowl since beating Oregon 16-0 on Nov. 24, 2007.
asserted
It → beat → Nov.
The Bruins had been favored by 22 1/2 points over the Wolf Pack (3-5).
asserted
Bruins → favor → Pack
UCLA punctuated the game with its fourth interception in the final seconds by defensive back Ty Lee.
asserted
UCLA → punctuate → Lee
The offense got off to a sluggish start for the second straight game.
asserted
offense → get → game
Cornerback Scooter Jackson intercepted Nevada quarterback Luke Duncan on his first play of the game, setting up a 26-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani for a 3-0 lead.
asserted
Jackson → intercept → lead
Running back Anthony Woods picked off Duncan on Nevada’s second drive after the ball got tipped in the air at the UCLA 16.
asserted
ball → pick → 16
Defensive back Derrick Barksdale came up with a pick-six in the quarter, leading to his 26-yard TD run that made it 10-0 and chased Duncan, who transferred from Chesney was hired last December.
asserted
who → come → Chesney
Duncan finished 1 for 8 for 36 yards.
asserted
Duncan → finish → yards
“I think everybody saw that the ball was sailing and he wasn’t comfortable in the pocket,” Wolf Pack coach Jeff Choate said.
asserted
Choate → think → pocket
“He was throwing off his back foot, and even the balls that weren’t intercepted were in harm’s way.
asserted
that → throw → way
The Bruins have 16 interceptions this season after just one at this point last year, when they won only three games.
asserted
they → have → games
Dieffenbach scored on a 4-yard keeper just before halftime, extending the lead to 17-0.
asserted
Dieffenbach → score → 17
He finished 16 of 30 for 178 yards passing.
asserted
He → finish → yards
The Bruins struck quickly to start the third.
asserted
Bruins → strike → third
Wayne Knight caught a 12-yard TD pass from Dieffenbach for the running back’s 14th score of the season to make it 24-0.
asserted
it → catch → season
Knight had 11 carries for 53 yards to lead UCLA.
asserted
Knight → have → UCLA
Joe McFadden’s 48-yard field goal attempt on Nevada’s first drive of the third went under the crossbar.
asserted
attempt → go → crossbar
On fourth-and-2, Bhaghani capped an eight-play, 28-yard drive with a 38-yard field goal, putting UCLA ahead 27-0 in the fourth.
asserted
Bhaghani → cap → fourth
AJ Bianco, in his fifth season coming off the bench, took over for Duncan and finished 6 of 13 for 71 yards for the Wolf Pack.
asserted
Bianco → come → Pack
Fourth-stringer and true freshman Reeve Sloan played the game’s final minutes.
asserted
Sloan → play → minutes
Rowe goes out
asserted
Rowe → go → ?
UCLA wide receiver Brian Rowe Jr. left the game after being hit hard by two defenders in the second quarter.
asserted
Jr. → leave → quarter
He caught a 38-yard pass from Dieffenbach, got hit and rolled out of bounds on the Wolf Pack sideline.
asserted
He → catch → sideline
The collision also took out a Nevada coach.
asserted
collision → take → coach
Trainers rushed to Rowe, who eventually got up on his own after being shaken up on the play.
asserted
who → rush → play
Chesney had no update on his status afterward.
asserted
Chesney → have → status
Rowe has 19 catches for 307 yards in eight games this season.
asserted
Rowe → have → games
Final four
The Bruins reached the Top 10 of The AP poll playing just one ranked opponent, then-No. 13 Oregon on the road.
asserted
Bruins → reach → road
Their month of November gets a lot more challenging.
asserted
month → get → November
Next week they visit Minnesota, which nearly upset No. 4 Indiana on Saturday before bowing 23-16 in overtime.
asserted
which → visit → overtime
After that, they host Illinois and visit Michigan, with both teams 5-3 overall.
asserted
teams → host → 5
They end the regular season hosting crosstown rival USC, which was 6-2 overall before playing No. 2 Ohio State later Saturday.
asserted
which → end → State
“These next four games are going to be very physical and what we put out there at moments isn’t going to work,” Chesney said.
asserted
Chesney → go → moments
“We understand that and we’ll be right back to the drawing board.”
asserted
we → understand → board
Ty and JoJo
Actor-singer-dancer JoJo Siwa was at the game, handing out Halloween candy to students and supporting Dieffenbach.
asserted
Siwa → hand → Dieffenbach
He said his mother taught Siwa in dance classes when she was young.
asserted
she → say → classes
“Our families just got really close and we’re good friends now,” Dieffenbach said.
asserted
Dieffenbach → get → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
