Garbers, UCLA roll to 45-7 rout of Alabama State

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Backup quarterback Ethan Garbers threw for 164 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns, and UCLA improved to 2-0 for the second consecutive 12 months with a 45-7 rout of Alabama State on Saturday.

Garbers got here in after Dorian Thompson-Robinson suffered an ankle damage halfway by way of the Bruins’ fourth drive early within the second quarter. The redshirt sophomore directed scoring drives in 5 of seven possessions (4 TDs, one subject objective).

He accomplished 14 of 18 passes with each of his dashing scores coming within the second quarter because the Bruins constructed a 31-7 halftime lead.

“We bought a chance to play a variety of guys,” coach Chip Kelly mentioned. “You be taught by doing, and we had some guys that bought invaluable taking part in expertise in a school soccer sport with referees, with ramifications should you make a mistake.”

The Bruins ended up having 84 gamers get snaps, together with 4 quarterbacks and 6 working backs. Garbers performed a lot of the fourth quarter of final week’s opening win over Bowling Inexperienced and figured he was going to see prolonged motion this week with the Bruins dealing with a Soccer Championship Subdivision squad.

“I had ready this complete week as if I used to be going to play,” Garbers mentioned. “You bought to enter it with the mindset of simply ‘you’re right here proper now, you gotta be right here proper now and simply bought to do your job.’ Just about, that’s it.”

Garbers’ solely mistake got here within the fourth quarter, when he was intercepted by Adrian Maddox ultimately zone on third and objective on the ASU 5 on a move supposed for Josiah Norwood.

Thompson-Robinson was heading in the right direction for his first six passes, together with a 25-yard TD to Hudson Habermehl late within the first quarter, and completed 9 of 11 for 101 yards. Kelly didn’t expound on Thompson-Robinson’s standing for subsequent week.

Keegan Jones, T.J. Harden and Christian Grubb additionally had touchdowns for the Bruins. The protection compelled three turnovers.

“Clearly we rotated so much, had a variety of guys within the sport, so having the ability to share the love I feel was the very best factor about at present,” linebacker Bo Calvert mentioned. “With the ability to see see guys are available that don’t have the highlight as a lot, having the ability to see these guys make performs was superior.”

Alabama State’s (2-1) lone rating got here with 13:53 remaining within the second quarter when Jeremiah Hixon caught a 21-yard landing move from Myles Crawley.

Crawley was 16 of 27 for 177 yards with a landing and interception. Starter Dematrius Davis didn’t play after being injured in final week’s win over Miles.

“Early on the offense was shifting fairly good. I feel talent sensible, that’s actually the place we are able to compete,” Alabama State coach Eddie Robinson Jr. mentioned. “However when you begin stepping into these larger guys, that’s the place it form of catches up.”

ON THE RUN

The Bruins averaged 5.8 yards per carry regardless of Zach Charbonnet not taking part in. The junior was restricted in apply on Thursday however was in uniform and on the sideline. Grubb led the way in which with 58 yards and Harden added 56.

UCLA rushed for 224 yards, enhancing to 17-4 underneath Chip Kelly after they achieve over 200 on the bottom.

AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

With UCLA dealing with a FCS crew for the primary time, Notre Dame and Southern California stay the one faculties who haven’t performed a crew exterior the FBS.

Nonetheless, the Combating Irish will face Tennessee State subsequent season.

THE TAKEAWAY

Alabama State: The Hornets fell to 0-12 in opposition to FBS opponents since 1980. They’ve been held to 19 factors or fewer in each sport.

UCLA: The Bruins have scored at the very least 42 factors in 5 consecutive video games courting again to final season. They’re averaging 47.6 factors per contest with a mean successful margin of 29.4 throughout that span.

UP NEXT

Alabama State: Hosts Prairie View A&M on Sept. 24.

UCLA: Hosts South Alabama subsequent Saturday.

___

Extra AP school soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Join the AP’s school soccer e-newsletter: https://bit.ly/3pqZVaF