PASADENA — Ethan Garbers started at quarterback for UCLA in its game against Minnesota on Saturday evening.
Garbers completed his first four passes of the game to steadily move the Bruins (1-4 overall, 0-3 Big Ten going into Saturday’s game) down the field for a 10-play, 59-yard touchdown drive. He completed 14 of 21 passes in the first half for 161 yards with one interception.
Garbers missed the previous week’s game and redshirt sophomore Justyn Martin started in his place. Garbers appeared fully healthy on Saturday and did not have any tape wrapped around his ankle as he did in previous games. He even had four rushing attempts.
Head coach DeShaun Foster did not give any information throughout the week as to who might start against Minnesota or what he will be evaluating in each of the quarterbacks.
Players on offense and defense have shown support for both QBs.
“Four is a good guy,” defensive back Ramon Henderson said of Garbers on Wednesday. “ He’s being helpful, being supportive, doing the things that I would expect him to do.”
The Bruins used the same offensive line configuration as it did the week before at Penn State. Sam Yoon started at center for the second week in a row and Josh Carlin continued to play at right guard.
The offensive line allowed UCLA to gain 171 yards of total offense in the first half and gave up one sack.
“We were just all on the same page,” left tackle Niki Prongos said of how the reconfigured line played against Penn State. “We were communicating up on the line, we knew where to go and we just played well together and everything kind of clicked.”
Linebackers maintaining strength
UCLA’s linebacking corps remains strong and featured Ale Kaho in the lineup for the second week in a row. Kaho missed the Sept. 21 game against LSU and the Sept. 28 game against Oregon but had 10 total tackles in the season along with a tackle for loss and a sack heading into the Minnesota game.
Oluwafemi Oladejo also started at edge for the third game in a row after previously playing at the linebacker position. He had two tackles in the first half and half a tackle for loss.
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Recruiting trail
Sierra Canyon offensive lineman Ashdon Wnetrzak was among the high school recruits in attendance for Saturday’s game. The three-star recruit is a San Diego State commit.
The Trailblazers are out to a 2-0 start in Mission League play and have outscored opponents 92-20 in those two games.
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Sierra Canyon kicker and UCLA commit Ashton Zamani was also in attendance for the game. The senior had made 26 of 27 PATs this season and has made four of seven field goals with a season-long of 38 yards.
He has logged 2,577 yards on kickoffs in seven games with 36 touchbacks and a season-long kick of 80 yards.