News Summary
New Mexico achieved a landmark victory against UCLA, winning 35-10 at the Rose Bowl. This marks New Mexico’s first-ever win against a Big Ten team and improves their season record to 2-1. Head Coach Jason Eck celebrates a significant milestone in only his third game. The game featured a dominant performance from New Mexico, particularly in rushing, as they totaled 298 yards. UCLA, now 0-3 for the season, faced growing concerns about their performance and fan attendance at the Rose Bowl following this loss.
Pasadena
New Mexico achieved a historic win against UCLA on Saturday, triumphing 35-10 at the Rose Bowl. This significant victory improved New Mexico’s season record to 2-1, marking a notable milestone for Head Coach Jason Eck in only his third game with the program. This win also constitutes New Mexico’s first-ever victory against a Big Ten team.
With a decisive margin of 25 points, this victory is the largest by a Mountain West team over a Big Ten team since Utah defeated Indiana 40-13 on September 7, 2002. Furthermore, the outcome is believed to represent the largest margin of victory for the University of New Mexico in a road non-conference game, excluding games against New Mexico State, since October 17, 1931.
Despite dominating early in the game, New Mexico entered halftime with a narrow 14-7 lead. The third quarter saw both teams exchange offensive opportunities, with UCLA cutting into the deficit after a successful 51-yard field goal. However, New Mexico responded with a pivotal 75-yard touchdown drive led by quarterback Jack Layne, culminating in a two-yard touchdown run by Damon Bankston. This score extended New Mexico’s lead to 21-10.
Bankston further solidified New Mexico’s advantage with a touchdown reception during the fourth quarter, increasing the lead to 28-10. The team capped off their scoring with a three-yard run by D.J. McKinney, securing a comfortable 25-point victory.
New Mexico featured an impressive rushing performance, totaling 298 rushing yards for the game. Damon Bankston led the way with 154 rushing yards, while D.J. McKinney contributed 89 yards. Jack Layne demonstrated efficiency in the passing game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 152 yards. For UCLA, quarterback Nico Iamaleava completed 22 of 34 passes for 217 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Anthony Woods was UCLA’s leading rusher with 64 yards on 10 carries.
New Mexico’s offense showcased a disciplined approach, highlighted by a notable 13-play drive that consumed 7:52 of the game clock. The team enjoyed a comfortable lead throughout the second half despite a fourth-and-1 fumble that could have shifted momentum. However, strong defensive play limited UCLA to just 326 offensive yards and 10 points overall.
UCLA’s struggles continued, as they fell to 0-3 for the season, marking their first such start since 2019. The team has yet to hold a lead in any of their first three games and has been outscored 108-43 during this stretch. These statistics have raised concerns among fans about the team’s trajectory this season.
Attendance at the Rose Bowl has continued to decline, a trend that may be exacerbated by the team’s current performance issues. Following the loss, UCLA’s head coach, DeShaun Foster, acknowledged the necessity for the team to improve their discipline and execution in future games.
This historic win propels New Mexico forward as they look to build on this momentum in the upcoming weeks while UCLA faces critical challenges as they seek to rectify their early season shortcomings.
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Additional Resources
- UCLA Bruins
- Los Angeles Times
- Sports Illustrated
- Encyclopedia Britannica: UCLA Football
- Google Search: UCLA Football vs New Mexico
Author: STAFF HERE BEVERLY HILLS WRITER
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