No. 15 Oregon State heads into its bye week perhaps not wanting to take a break after cruising past No. 18 UCLA 36-24 Saturday night in Reser Stadium.
The combination of another sharp performance by quarterback DJ Uiagalelei and an opportunistic Oregon State defense proved too much for the Bruins.
Uiagalelei passed for 266 yards and two touchdowns. OSU’s big-play defense intercepted UCLA quarterback Dante Moore three times, leading to 17 points.
Tight end Jack Velling caught two touchdown passes, giving him five over the past two games. Silas Bolden caught a 47-yard touchdown pass, his fourth touchdown during the past three games.
Oregon State’s offense produced 415 yards against a UCLA defense that ranked fifth nationally in total defense.
In its first five games, UCLA gave up 61 points. OSU had more than half that total 40 minutes into Saturday’s game.
With the win, Oregon State (6-1, 3-1 Pac-12) clinched a bowl berth. This is the earliest Oregon State has been bowl eligible. The previous best was Oct. 19 during the 2013 season.
It was hardly one-sided, however. UCLA (4-2, 1-2) had its way with Oregon State on the ground, as the Bruins rushed for 284 yards. It was the most against a Beavers defense since Dec. 19, 2021, when Arizona State ran for 375 yards.
Oregon State swiped three passes from Moore during the first half on the way to a 23-10 halftime lead. The signature interception came just before halftime when Ryan Cooper Jr. returned a pick 67 yards for a touchdown.
The Beavers’ first two drives of the game led to Sappington field goals of 36 and 43 yards for a 6-0 lead. Late in the first quarter, Isaac Hodgins pressured Moore into a bad throw, which was intercepted by Andrew Chatfield and returned to the UCLA 21. Four plays later, Aidan Chiles spotted Jack Velling wide open in the flat, and the sophom*ore tight end walked into the end zone to complete a 10-yard touchdown.
UCLA responded to the 13-0 deficit with the first 10 points of the second quarter. Logan Loya caught a 10-yard touchdown pass, then R.J. Lopez booted a 36-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 13-10.
Oregon State used a mix of big run and pass plays to get inside the UCLA 10 on its next drive. It stalled, setting up Sappington for a 36-yard field goal and a 16-10 lead with 1:55 before halftime.
UCLA threatened with its next drive, moving the ball inside OSU’s 40. But Cooper took advantage of another rookie mistake, intercepting Moore and running 67 yards up Oregon State’s sideline for a touchdown with 48 seconds left before halftime.
It was the third consecutive week Moore has thrown a pick six.
Six minutes into the third quarter, Oregon State grabbed its largest lead when Silas Bolden sprinted past the secondary and caught a 47-yard touchdown pass for a 29-10 lead.
UCLA didn’t wait long to respond, needing five plays to cover 69 yards and score on a 9-yard run by T.J. Harden, trimming the deficit to 29-17.
Then it was Oregon State’s turn. Uiagalelei took advantage of UCLA’s woeful pass defense with another easy touchdown, as Velling broke free and caught a 32-yarder.
UCLA cut Oregon State’s lead to 36-24 during the first minute of the fourth quarter on a 6-yard touchdown run by Carson Steele. The Bruins threatened to pull to within one score on their next drive when they reached the OSU 18. But Oregon State’s Jack Kane made a huge play on a pass near the goal line, then Calvin Hart Jr. finished the drive by sacking Moore to end the threat.
Oregon State had some changes to its lineup. Starting corners Jaden Robinson and Cooper, who missed last week’s game at California with an injury, returned to action. With center Jake Levengood out, Tanner Miller moved over from right guard to start at center, with Grant Starck starting at right guard.
Oregon State takes next week off, then returns to action Saturday, Oct. 28, at Arizona.
-- Nick Daschel | @nickdaschel
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