UCLA holds off Fresno State and ends the season with a win

It was an opportunity for UCLA to say goodbye to its seniors while making a final statement.

Phew!

After performing better than their coach’s opening remarks at Big Ten media day, the Bruins regrouped and made the necessary plays to put a happy spin on the end of their season.

It took a final-minute onside kick from Fresno State that went out of bounds for UCLA to breathe a sigh of relief with a 20-13 victory Saturday afternoon in the Rose Bowl.

In his final college game, Bruins senior quarterback Ethan Garbers made the game-winning play. Garbers threw a two-yard touchdown pass over the middle to J.Michael Sturdivant with 1:38 to play and celebrated with a fist pump as his team took a 20-10 lead.

Fresno State went for a quick field goal but was unable to complete the comeback after an attempt to recover the onside kick failed.

It was a pleasant end to a checkered season that included a 1-5 start and a 4-2 finish for the Bruins (5-7). It also marked the end of Fresno State’s four-game winning streak in the series. UCLA defeated the Bulldogs for the first time since 2000, when Bruins coach DeShaun Foster was the team’s star running back.

Garbers shook off an erratic first half, completing 26 of 40 passes for 289 yards and a touchdown, while also running for a crucial first down late in the game. His favorite target was tight end Moliki Matavao, who made eight catches for 120 yards.

In what may have been his final game as a Bruin, linebacker Carson Schwesinger blocked a punt and made 15 tackles. For the ninth time this season, the Butkus Award finalist reached double figures in the category.

After taking a 13-10 lead early in the third quarter on TJ Harden’s five-yard touchdown run up the middle, the Bruins were able to take control on their next possession.

On fourth-and-1 at Fresno State’s nine-yard line, UCLA offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy called for a pass to Leo Kemp and the rarely used fullback was wide open. But Kemp dropped Garbers’ pass and gave the ball back to the Bulldogs on a turnover on downs.

UCLA fans might have felt like visitors to their own stadium at the start of halftime as the loud cry of “Fresno State!” Chants accompanied the Bulldogs on their way to the locker room.

Dylan Lynch’s 48-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter had just given Fresno State a 10-6 lead.

Meanwhile, it was mostly a mix of mistakes, penalties and missed opportunities for the Bruins early in the game.

The UCLA offense scored a first-and-goal at the nine on one drive and a first-and-10 at Fresno State’s 12-yard line on another — ending with just two field goals from Mateen Bhaghani. Bhaghani, a sophomore transfer from California who made 20 of 24 field goal attempts at season’s end, could make a compelling case for the Red Sanders Award, which goes to the team’s most valuable player.

For a while, the Bruins were taking almost as many penalties as they were playing games.

Keegan Jones’ 34-yard kickoff return early in the game was negated by Ty Lee’s hold. Matavao, right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio and left tackle Yutaka Mahe each had a false start on UCLA’s opening drive.

When Bruins linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo was called for a face mask on Fresno State’s first offensive play, 10 plays had been played and UCLA had called five penalties.

Things only got worse when Schwesinger blocked a punt, Fresno State (6-6) recovered and was awarded a first down after a facemask penalty on Anthony Adkins. The Bulldogs finally scored on the drive when quarterback Mikey Keene fired a seven-yard touchdown pass that a leaping Raylen Sharpe caught in the back of the end zone.

By halftime, UCLA had called all seven penalties in the game – not including a declined defensive holding penalty.

A few hours later, none of that mattered as the Bruins smiled and lingered on the field for farewell photos.