UCLA’s defense executed its game plan and helped snap an 11-game losing streak against Stanford with a 34-16 Pac-12 victory on Thursday night at Stanford Stadium.
The keys to victory were simple. The defense couldn’t allow early points and had to put pressure on Jack West, the Cardinal’s third-string quarterback, who was playing behind a depleted offensive line.
Linebacker Keisean Lucier-South and the Bruins recorded five of their season-high seven sacks while the team opened a 21-10 lead during the first half.
UCLA held Stanford to 35 yards on its final six possessions of the first half, and the Cardinal lost 8 yards combined on three consecutive first-half possessions as West was sacked on three consecutive third downs.
“It starts with good coverage and a good pass rush,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said. “We did a good job of creating pressure on the quarterback.”
By the end of the night, the Bruins (2-5 overall, 2-2 Pac-12) had held Stanford under 200 yards of total offense (143 passing, 55 rushing), the first time a UCLA defense held an opponent under 200 yards since 2009.
“There were times where we thought we had enough time to get (a pass) off and we didn’t get it off,” Stanford coach David Shaw said about the Cardinal’s pass protection. “Sometimes we didn’t have enough time to get it off.”
The seven sacks were the Bruins’ highest total since they had seven in the 2015 Alamo Bowl game against Kansas State.
All of Stanford’s 10 first-half points came via special teams. The Cardinal (3-4, 2-3) took its only lead of the game with a 42-yard field goal by kicker Jet Toner on the opening drive.
Stanford scored its lone touchdown when Spencer Jorgensen blocked Wade Lee’s punt with 1:29 left in the first quarter and Brycen Tremayne recovered it in the end zone to cut UCLA’s lead to 14-10.
UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson made his return as the starter after an ankle injury against Arizona on Sept. 28 kept him out of the following week’s loss to Oregon State.
The UCLA offense benefited from his return immediately, as he threw a pair of first-quarter touchdown passes and ran 1 yard for another touchdown in the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson finished the night 21-of-34 for 192 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 66 yards and the one score.
“Their quarterback is an X-factor,” Shaw said after the game. “Quick. Athletic. Explosive. You give (UCLA coach) Chip Kelly a guy like that and we have seen that movie before.”
The Bruins have reiterated for weeks that they could win more games if they could put together a well-balanced game on offense.
It finally happened with a strong performance from Thompson-Robinson, wide receiver Kyle Philips and running back Joshua Kelley.
“We are balanced right now,” Chip Kelly said. “We have the ability with Josh and Demetric (Felton) to run the ball. I thought Dorian really kept things alive with his legs.”
Kelley rushed for 176 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, as the Bruins out-rushed Stanford 233-43 and averaged 6.1 yards per carry.
The last time UCLA had a game with a 100-yard receiver and rusher was last season against Washington when Kelley rushed for 125 and tight end Caleb Wilson had 102 receiving yards.
“I love this group,” Kelly said. “They want to get better.”
UCLA will host true freshman quarterback Jayden Daniels and No. 17 Arizona State (5-1, 2-1) on Oct. 26 at the Rose Bowl.