In a remarkable turnaround from their recent loss to the Oregon State Beavers, the UCLA Bruins delivered a commanding 42-7 victory against the Stanford Cardinal this past Saturday. The Bruins’ resurgence not only boosted their 2023 season record to 5-2 but also rekindled hopes of a bowl appearance, even as they grapple with uncertainty at the quarterback position. Meanwhile, the defeat sent Stanford tumbling to a 2-5 record for the season.
Key Takeaways:
- UCLA’s defense, currently ranked highest in the Pac-12, put on a clinic, stifling both Stanford’s running and passing game.
- Quarterback Ethan Garbers, back in the starting lineup for the Bruins, orchestrated an impressive performance, throwing two touchdowns on 20-for-28 passing for a total of 240 yards.
- Running back Carson Steele was a standout performer, contributing three touchdowns along with 76 rushing yards.
Stanford’s struggles were exacerbated by a slew of costly errors, as head coach Troy Taylor acknowledged in his post-game comments. “We can ill afford mistakes,” Taylor emphasized, recognizing the critical nature of the Cardinal’s blunders. Throughout the game, Stanford incurred a whopping 10 penalties, amounting to a substantial loss of 113 yards. Notably, penalties against sophomore tight end Sam Roush and sophomore wide receiver Elic Ayomanor thwarted Stanford’s attempts to gain momentum and mount a scoring challenge.
“Our margin for victory is thin,” Taylor conceded.
Looking ahead, the Bruins aim to build on their recent success as they prepare to face the Colorado Buffaloes, led by the legendary Deion Sanders, this coming Saturday. Meanwhile, Stanford faces an uphill battle in their next matchup, as they seek redemption against the AP’s fifth-seeded Washington Huskies in a bid to turn their season around.
Don’t forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Bruins!
