UCLA overcame a 10-point deficit and three first-half turnovers to beat Iowa 20-17 on Friday in Pasadena, Calif., for the Bruins’ third straight win.
UCLA quarterback Ethan Garbers went 21-of-34 passing for 204 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, each of which ended the Bruins’ first two possessions of the game.
Logan Loya had five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown and T.J. Harden ran for 125 yards on 20 carries in the victory.
Iowa running back Kaleb Johnson, who entered the game second in the nation in rushing yardage, managed just 49 yards on 18 carries. Hawkeyes receiver Jacob Gill caught six passes for 138 yards in the loss.
Zach Lutmer picked off Garbers’ pass with 13:30 left in the first quarter, setting up Johnson’s 2-yard touchdown to give the Hawkeyes a 7-0 lead.
Garbers’ next interception halted the Bruins’ 13-play, 72-yard drive. Iowa again capitalized on the turnover, going 74 yards on seven plays and taking a 10-0 lead on Drew Stevens’ 24-yard field goal.
The Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) regrouped, holding Iowa scoreless on its next six possessions. Garbers settled in to lead UCLA on three scoring drives before halftime.
Mateen Bhaghani kicked a 57-yard field goal with 11:41 left in the second quarter to cut the Bruins’ deficit to 10-3.
After the first of Carson Schwesinger’s two interceptions, Garbers capped a six-play, 45-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Titus Mokiao-Atimalala to tie the score. Garbers gave the Bruins a 17-10 lead just before halftime when he threw a 29-yard TD to Loya with 55 seconds left.
Iowa (6-4, 4-3) tied the score at 17-17 when Kamari Moulton scored from 1 yard with 11:27 left in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing possession, Bhaghani capped a 13-play, 66-yard drive with a 27-yard field goal to give UCLA a 20-17 lead with 4:49 left.
–Field Level Media
