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The Bruins are looking for their third straight win

Online Niel November 9, 2024

The UCLA Bruins (4-5) are riding one of the Big Ten’s hottest streaks as they held on, 20-17, to upset the Iowa Hawkeyes on Homecoming night. A comeback for the ages and one to remember for a long time.

It was the first meeting between the two teams since the 1986 Rose Bowl. The Bruins came out on top in that game and followed it up with their biggest win of the season. UCLA coach DeShaun Foster has completely turned this team around in just a few short weeks.

The Bruins looked like their two-game winning streak was coming to an end when they went on a 10-0 run to start the game. They didn’t flinch, scoring 17 unanswered points and kicking a field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Both sides of the ball played sensationally, gaining 415 yards of total offense and forcing three turnovers. The star of the game was undoubtedly junior quarterback TJ Harden, finishing with a game-high 125 yards rushing.

Harden’s best game before Friday night came in Week 4, when he posted 53 yards. He doubled that number and then some, running all over the Hawkeyes defense. He was the key to success as the Bruins beat back accusations of being the worst running team in the Big Ten.

Quarterback Ethan Garbers started his night with two interceptions on the first two possessions, leading to a 10-0 deficit. He quickly recovered, throwing for 204 yards and two touchdowns in response.

The defense was engaged tonight as well. Two interceptions and a forced fumble from key players changed the game. Senior linebacker Carson Schwesinger picked up not one, but two interceptions in the game. He had never caught an interception before this game.

Bruins kicker Mateen Bhaghani was also impressive in the win. He hit a 57-yard field goal in the first half for his career long and the second-longest in school history. He would later kick the field goal in the fourth that was the difference in the game.

This Bruins team is a completely different group than the one that started the season 1-5. Playing four top 25 teams early on led to the build up to this game. They fell by double digits early and understood they had the tools to knock it off.

Now just two wins away from being bowl eligible, the Bruins are one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten with three straight wins. They will celebrate this win for 24 hours and get back to work in preparation for their meeting with the Washington Huskies on the road next week.

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