Sep 19, 2023 | Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Sports, Valleys

UCLA Jumps Out Early

Moore completed 8 of his 12 attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns before taking the rest of the day off.  It marked the third straight game in which Moore has thrown for at least one 60-yard touchdown pass – 81-yard pass to Josiah Norwood at San Diego State; 62-yard pass to J. Michael Sturdivant against Coastal Carolina. 

Ezavier Staples gets yardage for Bruins (Courtesy Photo)

By Earl Heath

Contributing Sports Writer

 

On UCLA’s first possession freshman QB Donte Moore connected with Kam Brown with a 67-yard catch and run. That put the BRUINS up 7-0 and the route was on. Next possession Carson Steele took it in on a one-yard run that led to a 35-point first period. The most scored in a quarter since the second quarter of a game at Washington State in 2012. 

On the teams third time with the ball Moore hit J. Michael Sturdivant with a thirty-yard strike. RJ Lopez would land the PAT and UCLA (3-0) would roll to a 59-7 win over North Carolina Central in front of ROSE BOWL crowd of 64,356. 

Moore completed 8 of his 12 attempts for 182 yards and two touchdowns before taking the rest of the day off.  It marked the third straight game in which Moore has thrown for at least one 60-yard touchdown pass – 81-yard pass to Josiah Norwood at San Diego State; 62-yard pass to J. Michael Sturdivant against Coastal Carolina. 

“When you have great teammates around you, great fans,” said Detroit native Moore. “Shoutout to the fans of course, and Westwood, a beautiful area, with beautiful weather every day, it’s a lot of things that bring positivity around me.” 

The Bruins ran for more than 400 yards. It surpassed NCCU 404-103. It was the most rushing yards by UCLA since it recorded 402 yards against Arizona State in 2022. Five Bruins recorded rushing . UCLA last scored six rushing touchdowns against Arizona in 2015. 

“I was impressed with, with our team, was just their approach,” said UCLA Head Coach Chip Kelley. “They had a great week of training and a great week of practice. I think that’s a sign of maturity. They are focused on getting better on a daily basis and that is something that we preach, but it’s not always followed.”