AP Photo – Iowa State quarterback Brendan Sullivan, 1, faces UCLA linebacker and He is tackled by Cain Medrano, 20, and defensive back Devin Kirkwood, 3.
PASADENA, Calif. — Ethan Garbers threw two touchdowns, Carson Schwezinger had two interceptions and UCLA defeated Iowa State 20-17 on Friday night for its third straight win.
Garbers completed 21 of 34 passes for 204 yards and was able to lead the Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) to victory despite three turnovers in the first half. I was able to do it. His two interceptions in the first quarter gave Iowa 10 points. The senior also committed a fumble at the Iowa State 3-yard line, which was recovered by Jayden Harrell in the end zone as the Bruins went scoreless twice in the red zone during the second quarter.
TJ Harden had his first 100-yard game of the season and fourth of his career, gaining 125 yards on 20 carries.
Schwesinger, who entered the game leading the Big Ten with an average of 10.6 tackles per game, had two interceptions for the first time in his career, but he threw one of the nation’s best running backs, Iowa’s Caleb Johnson, for 49 tackles. With 18 carries, he helped the Bruins’ defense limit the number of yards.
Johnson ranked second in the nation in rushing, but had his lowest yards of the season. His 2-yard score in the first quarter was his 21st touchdown of the season, setting a Hawkeyes single-season record. He also set Iowa’s single-season scoring record.
Iowa fell to 6-4 and 4-3 in the conference.
Quarterback Brendan Sullivan was injured in the third quarter after being hit by UCLA linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo on a pass that Schwesinger picked off. Jackson Stratton came off the bench and led the Hawkeyes on a 13-play TD drive, capped by Kamari Moulton’s 2-yard run from left tackle to tie the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.
Mateen Bagani’s 27-yard field goal with 4:49 left gave the Bruins the win. Bagani also scored from 57 yards out early in the second quarter, marking the second-longest field goal in school history.
The Bruins took the first kickoff, but Zach Lutmer picked off Garbers at UCLA’s own 41-yard line.
After that, the Hawkeyes lacked the field to work on. Johnson’s run marked the first time Iowa State scored a touchdown in a season opener. After Quinn Schulte’s interception in the end zone, Drew Stevens added a 24-yard field goal.
The Bruins then rallied and took a 17-10 lead at halftime.
After Bagani’s first field goal, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala scored the tying goal midway through the second quarter on a 2-yard reception from Schwedinger’s No. 1 pick at the Iowa 45. Garbers connected with wide-open Logan Loya for a 29-yard gain. A touchdown with 55 seconds left in the first half.
Take-out
Iowa: This is only the third time in 22 games since 2019 that the Hawkeyes have lost in November.
UCLA: The Bruins, who were 1-5 at midpoint, have bowl hopes with three straight wins. This would be quite a turnaround considering the doubts people had already expressed about first-year head coach Deshaun Foster.
to the next
Iowa: Nov. 23 at Maryland.
UCLA: Travels to Washington next Friday.
UCLA 20, Iowa 17
In Pasadena, California.
Iowa 10 0 0 7 — 17
University of California, Los Angeles 0 17 0 3 — 20
1st quarter
Iowa – Johnson 2 runs (Stevens kick), 11:44.
Iowa – FG Stevens 24, :55.
2nd quarter
UCLA–FG Bagani 57, 11:41.
UCLA – Mokiao-Atimalala, 2 passes from Garbers (Bagani kick), 8:05.
UCLA–Loya 29 Pass from Garbers (Bagani kick), 55 minutes.
4th quarter
Iowa – Moulton 1 run (Stevens kick), 11:27.
UCLA–FG Bagani 27, 4:49.
A–53,467.
team statistics
University of California, Iowa
First down 12 23
Total net yards 265 415
Rush Yards 31-80 39-211
Passing 185 204
Comp-at-Into 9-15-2 21-34-2
Punt 3-39.0 1-55.0
Lost fumble 1-1 1-1
Penalty Yards 2-20 9-84
Possession time 22:27 37:33
personal statistics
Rushing – Iowa State, Johnson 18-49, Stratton 1-14, Sullivan 9-10, Moulton 3-7. UCLA, Harden 20-125, K. Jones 7-38, Berger 6-30, Garbers 4-23, (team) 2 wins (minus-5).
Passing – Iowa State, Sullivan 6-9-2-157, Stratton 3-6-0-28. UCLA, Garbers 21-34-2-204.
Reception – Iowa State, Gill 6-138, S. Anderson 2-35, Howard 1-12. UCLA, Loya 5-94, K. Jones 4-7, Gilmer 3-32, Pierre 2-25, Harden 2-16, Berger 2-13, Mokiao Athimalala 2-11, Pedersen 1 Wins, 6 losses.
Missed Field Goal – UCLA, Bagani 57.
AMES — Audi Crooks had 16 points, Addie Brown had 12 points and 10 rebounds and No. 8 Iowa State defeated Indiana.
