No. 4 UCLA Beats Illinois 22-14 to Reach 10-0, Tying the Best Start in School History
The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, hosted a rain-soaked thriller on Friday night, November 13, as No. 4 UCLA beat Illinois 22-14 to improve to 10-0 (7-0 in the Big Ten), the Bruins' first 10-0 start since 1998, tying the school record of 10 wins in a season.
UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach completed 13 of 20 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns. He opened the scoring with a 54-yard touchdown strike to Aidan Mizell, who finished with six catches for 176 yards. But with 35 seconds left in the first half, Dieffenbach fell hard on his left shoulder after a hit and left the game; third-string quarterback Madden Iamaleava took over and the UCLA offense stalled.
Dieffenbach returned with 55 seconds left in the third quarter to a standing ovation. On his first drive back he led a seven-play, 75-yard march capped by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Semaj Morgan that stretched the lead to 19-7. After Illinois closed to 19-14 in the fourth quarter, a Mateen Bhaghani field goal sealed the 22-14 final.
Head coach Bob Chesney praised the fans who stayed through the rain and Dieffenbach's return down the bench, greeting every teammate to lift the team. UCLA went just 3-9 last season; besides 1998, the only other 10-0 start in school history came in 1946. The Bruins visit Michigan on November 21 and host No. 18 USC on November 28, and one more win will clinch a berth in the Big Ten championship game.
(Source: NBC Sports)
Source: NBC Sports
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：Pasadena 的玫瑰碗球场航拍（资料图）。Ted Eytan 摄，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: Aerial view of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena (file photo). By Ted Eytan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
