UCLA Bruins Roll Over Cal Golden Bears 34-10 in COVID Season Opener at Rose Bowl
PASADENA (AP) -- Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw three touchdown passes, rushed for another TD and accounted for 248 yards of total offense as UCLA rolled to a 34-10 victory over California on Sunday morning.
The Bruins and Golden Bears weren't originally slated to face each other this season but the conference scheduled the Rose Bowl matchup on Friday after Cal's game against Arizona State and UCLA's matchup against Utah were canceled due to the Sun Devils and Utes having several positive COVID-19 tests.
The Sunday morning time slot was available because the Cal-Arizona State game was pushed back from Saturday before it was called off. Cal was playing its season opener after its Nov. 7 opener against Washington was canceled following one positive COVID-19 test and subsequent contact tracing.
Thompson-Robinson completed 14 of 26 passes for 196 yards and added 52 yards rushing. It is the first time in the junior's career he has thrown three or more TD passes in consecutive games.
The Bruins (1-1) got off to a slow start and trailed 3-0 before taking control. UCLA had a punt blocked and Thompson-Robinson threw an interception before he directed touchdown drives on four of the Bruins' last five possessions in the first half. UCLA led 27-10 at halftime.
Thompson-Robinson's 2-yard run around right end on fourth-and-goal with 58 seconds remaining in the first quarter gave the Bruins a 7-3 advantage. His three TD passes in the second quarter went to Charles Njoku, Chase Cota and Kyle Phillips.
The Bruins also had a solid day on the ground, rushing for 244 yards and averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Demetric Felton had 107 yards on 25 carries for the second 100-yard game of his career. Brittain Brown added 12 carries for 71 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Cal (0-1) had a seven-game winning streak snapped where Chase Garbers has played more than half the game. The junior quarterback was 18 of 33 for 122 yards and was under pressure for most of the day as he was sacked five times.
The Golden Bears' best drive was in the second quarter when they went 75 yards in 12 plays, culminating in Garbers' 8-yard run to bring them within 14-10.
THE TAKEAWAY
Cal: The Golden Bears' defensive line still looks like it is trying to catch up after a lineman tested positive for COVID-19 and most in the position group were quarantined after contact tracing. All the players were cleared to play, but UCLA's offensive line dominated at the point of attack.
UCLA: The Bruins' defense had its best game in coach Chip Kelly's three-year tenure. They forced the Bears to go three-and-out on five of their 12 possessions, had nine tackles for loss and held Cal to 4 of 14 on third-down conversions.
UP NEXT
Cal: Travels to Oregon State on Saturday.
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