Pasadena, CA – It was a historic night in Pasadena for UCLA in its opening game of the 2017 season.
What seemed like a walk in the park victory for Texas A&M after leading 38-10 at halftime turned out to be one of Josh Rosen’s best games as a college quarterback who led the Bruins to a 45-44 win over the Aggies at the Rose Bowl and its biggest comeback in school history.
“I told them at halftime, I said let’s not look at the scoreboard, let’s just play football one play at a time and they did that and it worked out. We’ll take it,” said UCLA head coach Jim Mora.
The Bruins were down 44-10 in the third quarter but would begin to make their march towards history with a 6-yard touchdown run from Soso Jamabo with 2:06 left in the third quarter to cut the Aggies lead 44-17.
The Bruins held on to the momentum in the 4th quarter. Rosen threw his first of 4 touchdowns in the quarter to Darren Andrews from 9-yards out. Andrews would catch another ball in the end zone, this time for 42-yards to bring the Bruins within 13 points with 8:12 left in the game. Andrews finishes with 12 catches for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns.
After allowing 286 yards rushing in the 1st half, UCLA was able to adjust only allowing 100 yards the rest of the game. The Bruin defense gave Rosen one last chance with under 3 minutes to go put this team in the school’s record book.
With 43 seconds left of the clock, Rosen turned a fake spike into a 10-yard touchdown catch to Jordan Lasley to put the Bruins on top for good 45-44.
Rosen ended the night 39 0f 59 for 491 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was his first game back after suffering a shoulder injury against Arizona State last season.
Wide Receiver Caleb Wilson became on of Rosen’s favorite targets tonight with 15 receptions 208 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Jamabo led all UCLA backs with 46 yards on 7 carries adding one touchdown.
The Bruins had 3 turnovers overall in the night two of those coming from Rosen on two fumbles in the first half.
UCLA will be back at the Rose Bowl next week when they host the University of Hawaii Saturday September 10, at 2:00pm.
