The defense for No. 15-ranked Oregon State came away with three interceptions and the Beavers held No. 18-ranked UCLA at bay en route to a 36-24 win on Saturday in Corvallis, Ore.
Among the pickoffs of UCLA quarterback Dante Moore was Ryan Cooper Jr.’s 67-yard return for a touchdown just before halftime, a momentum-swing that turned a possible Bruins lead into Oregon State leading by double digits, as it did for much of the second half.
It was also the third time Moore, a freshman, surrendered a pick-six, one in each of UCLA’s Pac-12 Conference games. Akili Arnold and Andrew Chatfield made the other two interceptions on Saturday.
Oregon State (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) twice extended its lead to 19 points in the second half, each time on touchdown passes by DJ Uiagalelei. He connected with Silas Bolden on a 43-yard strike and a 32-yarder to Jack Velling.
Velling also scored on a 10-yard pass from reserve quarterback Aidan Chiles in the first quarter to cap a 13-0 start for Oregon State.
Uiagalelei went 14-of-24 passing for 266 yards with the two scores and powered the Beavers’ offense against a stout UCLA defense. Oregon State came into Saturday’s contest averaging 205 rushing yards per game, but the Bruins limited the Beavers to 133 yards on 28 carries.
UCLA (4-2, 1-2), meanwhile, rushed for 284 yards on 50 carries. Quarterback Collin Schlee gained 80 yards on six carries out of designed-run packages, and running back Carson Steele gained 110 yards on 22 carries, including a 7-yard score in the fourth quarter.
T.J. Harden, who gained 47 yards, ran for a 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
The Bruins had an opportunity to pull within one score late in the final period when they drove to the Oregon State 16-yard line. A false-start penalty on fourth down set up Calvin Hart Jr.’s drive-killing sack of Moore.
Hart made another sack on UCLA’s final possession.
Moore finished 15-of-34 passing for 168 yards and one touchdown, a 10-yard connection with Logan Loya in the second quarter. Loya led the Bruins with 48 yards on five receptions.
Bolden and Anthony Gould each amassed 87 yards receiving to lead Oregon State. Damien Martinez rushed for a team-high 90 yards.
–Field Level Media
