The UCLA football team used a dominant second half to record a 35-22 win over Boise State on Saturday evening at SoFi Stadium in the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk.
With the result, the Bruins (8-5) logged their first bowl game victory since 2015. In addition, sixth-year head coach Chip Kelly became just the fourth coach in program history to lead UCLA to eight or more victories in three or more consecutive seasons. The Bruins improved to 17-20-1 all-time in bowl games.
After taking a 16-7 deficit into the locker room at halftime, UCLA came out and scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to take the lead and control of the game. The Bruins forced punts on each of the Broncos' (8-6) first three drives of the second half and converted on that defensive stinginess, finding the end zone on each of the team's three ensuing drives.
For the game, UCLA outgained Boise State 510-332 in total offense.
The Bruins had several offensive standouts. Redshirt sophomore J. Michael Sturdivant had a career-high 142 yards receiving on four catches, making long catches to set up or score a UCLA touchdown on three drives in the second half. Sophomore running back T.J. Harden recorded 131 yards of total offense and two rushing touchdowns.
Quarterbacks Collin Schlee and Ethan Garbers both had strong performances for the Bruins.
Schlee set up a pair of touchdown drives with long runs, and finished his day with a career-high 127 rushing yards on seven carries to go along with 78 passing yards on 11-of-16 completions. He exited the game due to injury early in the second half, making way for Garbers who completed each of his first eight pass attempts while leading the Bruins to three consecutive touchdown drives. Garbers ended the night with 152 yards on 9-of-12 passing.
Boise State opened the scoring in the first quarter with a pair of field goals, but Schlee led the Bruins on a touchdown drive to take the lead near the end of the opening stanza.
Schlee's legs got the Bruins in business on that drive, as he broke a tackle down the right seam and took off for 50 yards to get UCLA into the red zone. He later capped the scoring drive with a six-yard shovel pass to senior Hudson Habermehl in the middle of the end zone at the 0:48 mark of the first quarter.
Another Schlee run set up UCLA's first scoring drive in the second half, as he scampered 44 yards down the right sideline to get UCLA inside the 10-yard line. He was injured on the play however, prompting Garbers to enter the game at the 11:25 mark of the third quarter.
Garbers made an immediate impact, completing three consecutive passes capped off by a quick five-yard strike to redshirt sophomore Kyle Ford on the right side. It was Ford's first touchdown reception of the year.
The next offensive drive was highlighted by a Garbers bomb down the right sideline for Sturdivant, who reeled it in for a 39-yard gain to the Boise State 4-yard line. Two plays later, Harden streaked in untouched to the left side of the end zone for a one-yard touchdown to give the Bruins their first lead since the opening quarter.
Another Garbers-to-Sturdivant connection, this time for 41 yards down the left sideline, got the Bruins back in the red zone on their next possession. Harden would again find the end zone to cap the drive, finding room on the left side to break off a 14-yard touchdown run.
The Bruins needed just one play to convert on the final drive of the 28-0 run, as Garbers hit Sturdivant in stride at the front-right pylon for a 40-yard touchdown catch with 6:11 remaining in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt senior linebacker Darius Muasau led the Bruins on defense, posting a season-high and team-leading 11 tackles. He also paced the Bruins with 2.5 tackles for loss. Redshirt junior edge rusher Grayson Murphy added eight tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
Redshirt senior safety Alex Johnson picked off a pass in the fourth quarter, making him the first Bruin since 2009 to hit the five-interception mark in a season.
Garbers took home LA Bowl Offensive Most Outstanding Player honors while Muasau was named the Defensive Most Outstanding Player.
