UCLA kicked off the Bob Chesney era with a statement win Saturday night, taking down former Pac-12 rival California 45-24. And let me tell you, if you were a Golden Bears fan, that fourth quarter felt like a gut punch, courtesy of some huge defensive plays and a running back who just wouldn’t quit. Both teams rolled into this season with new coaches and high hopes, but it was Chesney’s squad that capitalized on Cal’s late miscues and sealed the deal in dramatic fashion.
New Faces, Big Plays, and a Fourth Quarter Surge
The Bruins rolled out an impressive 37 new players, and these new guys wasted no time making an impact. Coach Chesney, who said “It was a lot of fun” and “That was a battle,” clearly got his team ready to brawl. The momentum really flipped in the fourth quarter when Ta’Shawn James picked off a pass that bounced off Ian Strong’s hands. One play later, Wayne Knight, who followed Chesney from James Madison, ripped off a 31-yard touchdown run. Just a few minutes later, James snagged his second takeaway, setting up Knight for another score, a 4-yard run that pushed it to 38-24 with under three minutes left. Anthony Woods then put the final nail in the coffin with a massive 53-yard touchdown run. Knight finished the game with 71 rushing yards and three TDs. “We all came together with a lot of transfers and Coach Ches and we trust him,” receiver Mikey Matthews said. “He’s leading us and we trust him with all of our hearts. So we just play for him and play extra hard.” That trust showed in how they closed it out!
Turnovers and a Historic Rivalry Reignited
Nico Iamaleava, the Bruins’ quarterback, threw for 184 yards and added a rushing score himself. The Bruins’ ground game was absolutely dominant, racking up 277 rushing yards and a whopping six touchdowns on the ground. Knight himself wasn’t surprised, saying, “We got a lot of guys in there that can make plays. It’s never going to drop off with any of us. That’s gonna be a huge testament for a lot games that we win this season.” On the flip side, Cal’s quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele had a rough night, throwing for 271 yards and two TDs but turning the ball over three crucial times. Sagapolutele owned it, stating, “Definitely didn’t play to the standard. Turned the ball over three times. I need to put the offense in a better position, and I got to do better myself.” This wasn’t just any game, either. These two used to battle every year from 1933 to 2023, and with the “Calimony” payments from UCLA to Cal after the realignment, you know the rancor between these schools is real. The first half was wild, with traded touchdowns, a fumble, an interception, and a dizzying 87-yard drive by Cal in 38 seconds, only for UCLA to hit a field goal to lead 24-17 at halftime. Cal tied it up midway through the third, but the Bears just couldn’t hold on, wilting in front of their energetic sellout crowd of 54,283.
The Bruins’ offense under the new staff looked way more potent, hitting eight plays from scrimmage of at least 20 yards, their most since 2023. Iamaleava, who left briefly with a calf cramp, knows what this team can be. “We’ve seen our potential out there with this first game and it’s on us to go out there and put in the work.” That’s the mindset you love to see! With that kind of potential, this UCLA team is definitely one to watch moving forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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