No 7 UCLA improves to 8-0 with shutout of Nevada

Powered by four interceptions, including a pick-six from cornerback Derrick Barksdale in the first quarter, No. 7 UCLA defeated Nevada 27-0 on Saturday afternoon for its first shutout win at the Rose Bowl since 2007.

UCLA improved to 8-0 and continued its remarkable turnaround after winning just three games last season.

“Really good defensive plays that showed up in there,” UCLA coach Bob Chesney said, “and then just a lot to be desired at moments on the offensive side, but I thought overall to get yourself to 8-0 is a big deal, and to shut a team out at any level is a big deal.

“Wins are not the easiest thing to come by. I like where we’re at, and there’s a whole lot more that we have to continue to step up.”

Nevada struggled to get anything going against UCLA. On the ground, the Wolf Pack ran for just 65 yards, averaging 1.9 yards per carry. And when Nevada opted to attack through the air, the Bruins gave the Wolf Pack little to no room, sacking the quarterback three times.

UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach dives into the end zone to score a touchdown against Nevada on Saturday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

No. 7 UCLA 27, Nevada 0, end of game

Nevada started on its 14.

Janerious Jackson ran for a loss of two yards. Nevada freshman Reeve Slone took over at quarterback and passed for four yards. Slone ran for seven yards. On fourth-and-one, Ky Woods ran for one yard.

Jackson ran for seven yards. Jackson ran for five yards and another three yards before the two-minute warning was triggered. Reeve tossed an incomplete pass.

On third-and-seven at the UCLA 49, Slone ran for four yards. Nevada was called for false start. On fourth-and-eight with 1:01 remaining, Slone’s pass was intercepted by Ty Lee.

UCLA ran out the clock on a win.

No. 7 UCLA 27, Nevada 0, 6:48 left in fourth quarter

UCLA started on its 34.

Anthony Woods ran for three yards and then for a loss of four yards. Ty Dieffenbach was under pressure and tossed the ball out of bounds.

Curtis Gerrand punted and Nevada returned it to the Wolfpack 26.

No. 7 UCLA 27, Nevada 0, 8:05 left in fourth quarter

Nevada started on its 25 after the touchback.

Nevada was called for a false start. AJ Bianco tossed an incomplete pass. AJ Bianco ran for two yards. Bianco passed to Janerious Jackson for nine yards. On fourth-and-four, Nevada punted to the UCLA 34.

No. 7 UCLA 27, Nevada 0, 9:56 left in fourth quarter

UCLA started on the Nevada 47.

Ty Dieffenbach passed to Wayne Knight for nine yards. Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass. Jaivian Thomas ran for 12 yards. Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan for three yards. Thomas ran for six yards. Wayne Knight ran for nine yards, but UCLA’s Josh Phifer was called for holding.

On third-and-eight at the Nevada 24, Dieffenbach passed to Anthony Woods for five yards. UCLA lined up to go for it on fourth down, but Nevada called timeout with 10:00 left in the fourth quarter.

Mateen Bhaghani hit a 38-yard field goal.

No. 7 UCLA 24, Nevada 0, 14:08 left in fourth quarter

Nevada started on its 13.

Ky Woods ran for three yards and another two yards before time expired in the third quarter. AJ Bianco was sacked for a loss of eight yards by Sahir West.

Nevada punted the ball to its 47.

No. 7 UCLA 24, Nevada 0, 1:05 left in third quarter

UCLA started on its 31 after the missed field goal.

Anthony Woods ran for six yards. Woods ran for nine yards. Ty Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Aidan Mizell was incomplete. Jaivian Thomas ran for six yards. Dieffenbach’s pass across the middle was deflected and fell incomplete.

Big Ten Network cameras caught Dieffenbach slamming his helmet to the ground in frustration on the sideline

On fourth-and-four, UCLA punted to the Nevada 13.

No. 7 UCLA 24, Nevada 0, 3:24 left in third quarter

Nevada started on its 25 after the touchback.

Herschel Turner Jr. ran for no gain. AJ Bianco was sacked for a loss of four yards. Turner ran for 17 yards.

Bianco tossed an incomplete pass. Turner ran for no gain. Biancho passed to Marshaun Brown for 34 yads. Bianco tossed two incomplete passes.

On fourth-and-12 at the UCLA 30, Joe McFadden missed a 48-yard field goal attempt.

No. 7 UCLA 24, Nevada 0, 7:42 left in third quarter

Whatever the UCLA offense discussed at halftime, it worked. The Bruins looked far more comfortable during an efficient scoring drive to open the third quarter.

UCLA started on its 25 after the touchback.

Wayne Knight ran for six yards. Knight ran for three yards and another 15 yards.

Ty Dieffenbach was sacked for a oss of four yards. Anthony Woods ran for one yard. Dieffenbach passed to Jalen Saint Paul for 14 yards.

Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Aidan Mizell was incomplete and broken up. Woods ran for 11 yards.

On first down at the Nevada 29, Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Landon Ellis sailed long and was incomplete. Dieffenbach faked a handoff and ran for five yards. Dieffenbach passed to Jaivian Thomas for 11 yards.

Thomas ran for one yard. Dieffenbach passed to Knight for a 12-yard touchdown. The play was reviewed and upheld. Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point.

No. 7 UCLA 17, Nevada 0, end of second quarter

Nevada started on its 25 after the touchback.

Dominic Kelley ran for one yard. Kelley carried the ball again for another yard and was injured on the play. UCLA called timeout to stop the clock with 33 seconds left. Herschel Truner Jr. ran for four yards. UCLA called timeout to freeze the clock at 28 seconds.

Ewan Baulch punted and Semaj Morgan returned it to the UCLA 28.

Ty Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Semaj Morgan was incomplete. Dieffenbach passed to Brian Rowe Jr. for 38 yards. Rowe was hit hard by two defenders as he fell out of bounds and was slow to get up. The play was reviewed to confirm whether he was inbounds while catching the ball. The play was upheld with six seconds left on the clock.

Dieffenbach passed to Morgan for one yard and he fell out of bounds with two seconds left.

Mateen Bhaghani lined up to attempted a field goal with two seconds left, but Nevada called timeout.

Bhaghani’s 51-yard field goal attempt was wide right and time expired to end second quarter.

No. 7 UCLA 17, Nevada 0, 1:20 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 29 after the punt return.

Ty Dieffenbach passed to Brian Rowe Jr. for five yards. Wayne Knight ran up the middle for 14 yards.

Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Brian Rowe Jr. was incomplete, with Rowe slipping on the play. Dieffenbach passed to Semaj Morgan for four yards. Dieffenbach passed to Brayden Loftin for five yards.

On fourth-and-two at the Nevada 48, Nevada jumped offsides and gifted UCLA first down.

Dieffenbach passed to Jalen Saint Paul for six yards. Jaivian Thomas. Dieffenbach passed to Morgan for 25 yards and the two-minute timeout was triggered.

Dieffenbach passed to Morgan for a loss of one yard before Dieffenabach ran for a four-yard touchdown. Mateen Bhaghani it the extra point.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 6:18 left in second quarter

Nevada started on its 14.

Dominic Kelley ran for two ayrds. AJ Bianco passed to Marshaun Brown for 12 yards. Bianco’s passed was broken up by Scott Taylor and fell incomplete. Bianco passed to Herschel Turner Jr. for eight yards. Kelley ran for three yards.

Turner ran for a loss of three yards. Bianco’s pass was nearly intercepted by Scooter Jackson and fell incomplete. Bianco’s deep pass was incomplete and broken up by Sammy Omosigho.

Nevada punted and Semaj Morgan returned it 11 yards to the UCLA 29.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 10:17 left in second quarter

UCLA started on its 2 after the punt.

Wayne Knight ran one yard. Ty Dieffenbach was nearly sacked in the end zone, but he escaped and tossed an incomplete pass.

Dieffenbach passed to Jalen Saint Paul for 32 yards. UCLA declined false start and pass interference penalties on the play.

Dieffenbach’s pass intended for Aiden Mizell looked like a potential interception before Mizell broke it up. Anthony Woods ran for eight yards. On third-and-two, UCLA’s Julian Armella was called for false start. On third-and-seven, Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass intended for Brayden Loftin.

Curtis Gerrand punted to the Nevada 14.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 12:41 left in second quarter

Nevada started on its 48 after the punt.

AJ Bianco was sacked for a loss of six yards. Bianco ran for 14 yards. Herschel Turner Jr. took a direct snap and ran for seven yards as time expired in the first quarter.

Bianco ran for three yards. Turner ran for a loss of two yards. Bianco ran for two yards.

Bianco lined up to take the kick on what seemed like a trick play and punted to the UCLA 2.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 1:31 left in first quarter

UCLA started on its 8 after the punt return penalty.

Wayne Knight ran for two yards. Knight then ran for a loss of two yards. Ty Dieffenbach rolled out and tossed an incomplete pass that was nearly intercepted.

UCLA punted to the Nevada 48.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 3:11 left in first quarter

Nevada started on its 25 after the kickoff.

The Wolfpack changed quarterbacks after three consecutive interceptions, with AJ Bianco taking over.

Herschel Turner Jr. ran for three yards and then another three yards. On third-and-four, Nevada called timeout. Bianco passed to Marshaun Brown for five yards.

Dominic Kelley ran for no gain and then for a loss of one yard. Bianchi passed to Kelley for three yards.

Nevada punted and Semaj Morgan returned it 26 yards to the UCLA 37. UCLA’s Drew Spinogatti, however, was called for a personal foul penalty and the Bruins were pushed back to their eight-yard line.

No. 7 UCLA 10, Nevada 0, 7:33 left in first quarter

The UCLA defense is locked in and is making this a nightmare game for Nevada quaterback Luke Duncan.

Nevada started on its 28 after the punt.

Herschel Turner Jr. ran for a loss of two yards. Duncan’s deep pass sailed long and incomplete.

On third-and-12, Duncan’s pass intended Marshaun Brown was intercepted by Derrick Barksdale and returned 26 yards for a touchdown.

Mateen Bhaghani hit the extra point.

Duncan has now tossed three interceptions on his first three drives of the game.

No. 7 UCLA 3, Nevada 0, 8:19 left in first quarter

UCLA started on its 17 after an interception.

Anthony Woods ran for two yards. Ty Dieffenbach stepped through a collapsing pocket for a gain of three yards. Dieffenbach’s pass across the middle intended for Brian Rowe Jr. was nearly intercepted before falling incomplete.

UCLA punted and Nevada returned it the Wolfpack’s 28.

No. 7 UCLA 3, Nevada 0, 9:51 left in first quarter

Nevada started on its 35 after the kickoff was booted out of bounds.

Dominic Kelley ran for no gain. Luke Duncan tossed an incomplete pass. Duncan tossed another incomplete pass, but UCLA’s Osiris Gilbert was called for holding.

Herschel Turner Jr. ran for one yard. Duncan passed to Donnie Cheers for 36 yards.

On first down at the UCLA 18, Duncan tossed an incomplete pass. Duncan tossed another incomplete pass. Duncan’s passed was intercepted by Jalen Woods and returned one yard to the UCLA 17.

No. 7 UCLA 3, Nevada 0, 12:15 left in first quarter

UCLA won the coin toss and deferred.

Nevada started on its 25 after the touchback.

Luke Duncan’s pass was intercepted by UCLA’s Scooter Jackson and returned to the Nevada 28.

Ty Dieffenbach passed to Landon Ellis for nine yards. Wayne Knight, returning from injury, ran for four yards.

Dieffenbach tossed an incomplete pass intended for Brian Rowe Jr. Knight ran for seven yards and then for no gain.

Mateen Bhaghani hit a 26-yard field goal.

Bob Chesney has proven that his team is more than a one-trick pony.

But on Saturday, the UCLA head football coach might have to go back to his fastball.

Heading into their last nonconference game of the season, the No. 7 Bruins (7-0) will host Nevada (3-4) at the Rose Bowl and will likely have to favor their run game against a Wolfpack defense that ranks No. 10 nationally in defensive third-down percentage and sixth in passing yards allowed — one of three teams in the country to rank in the top 10 in both categories.

“They play really hard. They have some good pressures where they bring two to a side, and the defensive ends, they get after it a little bit too,” UCLA offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy said. “But the big thing from the back end standpoint is how they mix things up and try to confuse quarterbacks.”

In the most complimentary way, I ask: What the heck was that first half, UCLA?

Yes, really. With Saturday’s 28-10 victory over Michigan State, Bob Chesney has the Bruins football team 7-0 for the first time since 2005. Still undefeated and still the only team in the Big Ten — and SEC — conferences that can say so. Ranked No. 9 in the nation and moving on up.

And so I ask: Two lost fumbles before halftime? Two drops? Two holding penalties? A meager 84 yards through the air and a modest 14-7 halftime lead? Against a majorly depleted Michigan State team fielding a freshman third-stringer at quarterback — that also lost two more of its best players to injury in the first half?

These Bruins are too good to be letting the wounded Spartans (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten) hang with them for even a half.

UCLA football coach Bob Chesney trusted Mateen Bhaghani enough to trot him out for a 58-yard field goal attempt before halftime during the Bruins’ 28-10 win over Michigan State.

Bhaghani drilled a 54-yard field goal during last season’s 42-37 upset against Penn State.

His attempt to surpass his career long of 57 yards against the Spartans last week fell short, but Bhaghani doesn’t linger long on errant kicks. He knows he will only be successful when his team needs him most if he focuses on the fine details of every kick.

The UCLA football team produced its worst quarter of the season Saturday.

After fumbling twice in Michigan State territory, halting offensive momentum, the Bruins were trailing going into the second quarter and tied 7-7 with three minutes left in the second quarter.

But for the third consecutive week, the defense shifted the momentum and ignited the offense.

Powered by a defensive unit that tallied three takeaways, four sacks and limited the opposing offense to 156 yards, UCLA earned its seventh win of the season Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl, trouncing Michigan State 28-10.

It was always going to be the Bruin Bullies’ day.

No. 9 UCLA was hosting a Michigan State team with one of the least productive offenses in the country led by freshman quarterback Kayd Coffman, who was taking his first college snaps after the Spartans’ top two quarterbacks were injured.

After forcing three turnovers and four sacks, UCLA trounced Michigan State 28-10 Saturday afternoon at the Rose Bowl. The Bruins improved to 7-0 for the first time since 2005 after winning just three games last season.