UCLA proves its no one-hit wonder with rout of

EAST LANSING, Mich. — The sheet of paper greeted every UCLA participant as he stepped into his row and took his seat on the group airplane.

On it, in large block letters, was printed six phrases and a problem from their interim coach: “ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?”

Every week after upsetting Penn State, the Bruins answered emphatically.

Hell, no!

These guys had another triumph in them. A big one.

In an encore that was every bit the success of its smash debut under a makeshift teaching workers, UCLA continued its beautiful transformation from winless group to … Big Ten powerhouse? College Football Playoff contender? Sports comeback story of the 12 months?

There appears no restrict to what this group may have the ability to accomplish given the continued rise on show Saturday during a 38-13 victory over Michigan State at Spartan Stadium.

UCLA’s offense, led by playcaller Jerry Neuheisel, rolled off 38 consecutive factors after the Bruins (2-4 general, 2-1 Big Ten) noticed the Spartans (3-3, 0-3) an early landing.

The Bruins’ protection, run by de facto defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, compelled a fumble, stopped the Spartans on all 4 fourth-down makes an attempt and held them to 253 yards of offense. Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles was knocked out of the sport early in the third quarter after spinning into a vicious hit from defensive deal with Keanu Williams.

Orchestrating it all was interim coach Tim Skipper, who has his group taking part in with a focus and vitality that had been clearly lacking under DeShaun Foster. The sheet of paper left on gamers’ seats was just one of the motivational messages he’s used to revive a once lifeless group.

“It was just a little reminder, that’s all it really was,” Skipper said. “It’s kind of like Santa Claus — you don’t know how the presents got there, but they got there.”

Skipper might now be thought of a more engaging candidate for UCLA’s teaching emptiness than Michigan State’s Jonathan Smith, the Pasadena native whose title has appeared on many preliminary lists for the job. How is this the same group that began the season 0-4?

“In my mind,” Skipper said, “I’ve kind of blocked out everything until I’ve been sitting in this seat and I just see us getting better every single day, that’s my whole entire goal, just get better every single day, and that’s all I’m really worried about.”

Things had been going so effectively for the Bruins that UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond got here over to where a Times reporter was sitting in the press box late in the third quarter to focus on the modifications he had made in the teaching workers that helped spark the group’s turnaround.

There’s no debating that this is a different group than the one that couldn’t win a sport under Foster. UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava said gamers had rediscovered their pleasure.

“I think just getting back to childhood memories and when we used to play this, when we was younger, and just going out there and having fun with it,” Iamaleava said after passing for 180 yards and three touchdowns. “We were uptight the first four games, and I feel like we went out there and let our hair flow and we were playing for fun.”

Once struggling to attain double digits in factors, UCLA’s offense is now buzzing. A new star emerged Saturday when working back Jalen Berger scored three touchdowns and ran for a season-high 89 yards against his former group, one rating coming on a run and the other two on catches.

On a uncommon day in which he didn’t need to spark UCLA’s offense with his legs because his group rolled up 238 dashing yards, Iamaleava was almost flawless with his arm. He accomplished 16 of 24 passes without an interception while working just six occasions for three yards.

The Bruins’ 24-7 halftime lead meant that they had scored more factors in a sport and a half with Neuheisel calling performs (66) than they did in their earlier 4 video games mixed (57).

“The plays coach Jerry has been putting us in have been great, just putting us in great positions to go out there and be successful,” Iamaleava said. “And then everything’s clicking right now. O-line is doing a great job getting our run game open. And then the receivers are doing a great job getting open on the field.”

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava celebrates with extensive receiver Kwazi Gilmer during the first half Saturday against Michigan State.

(Raj Mehta / Getty Images)

Their attacking, disciplined protection compelled another turnover and stifled Michigan State after permitting the Spartans to rating a landing on their opening drive.

UCLA’s particular groups chipped in as effectively, in a scene that appeared acquainted to those who had watched the Bruins play Northwestern but one way or the other caught Michigan State by shock. With the Bruins lined up to punt early in the second quarter, Cole Martin took the snap and ran for 20 yards and a first down. The play was almost equivalent to his pretend punt against the Wildcats two weeks earlier.

“Very similar,” Skipper said, “but it went the opposite way — same formation, different direction.”

UCLA transformed the trickery into factors after Iamaleava related with Berger for a three-yard landing catch.

After Bruins edge rusher Devin Aupiu compelled a fumble from Chiles that defensive deal with Siale Taupaki recovered, the Bruins obtained the ball back at the Spartans’ 32-yard line. Iamaleava later discovered extensive receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala cutting across the end zone for a 12-yard landing that prolonged UCLA’s lead to 24-7.

Every bounce went the Bruins’ method besides for a Mateen Bhaghani field-goal attempt that ricocheted off the left upright late in the second quarter.

UCLA’s 24 consecutive factors made its halftime benefit appear far higher, prompting Michigan State followers to serenade their group with boos heading into the locker room on what was shaping up as a not-so-festive homecoming.

“Best part really is just the togetherness we have in the locker room,” Martin said. “We came together. We’ve never altered. We’ve always stayed together. Nobody’s quit on one another. And that was really the best part for me, just knowing that whatever we go through, we’re going to have each other at the end of the day.”

Every week after they shocked the school soccer world, the big story was the Bruins. Once more.