Moore prefers to view defeat at Utah as `a learning point'

UCLA was ranked No. 22 but dropped out of the AP Top 25 Sunday as a result of its 14-7 loss at No. 11 Utah on Saturday and will have the next week to regroup.

While the Bruins' defense showed signs of growth and maturity after holding the Utes' offense to seven points, UCLA's offense, led by true freshman quarterback Dante Moore, was riddled with mistakes and an apparent lack of focus.

Moore's “big mistake” came on the very first offensive play when his pass was intercepted by linebacker Karene Reid and returned 21 yards for a touchdown.

“When I looked that way there was a linebacker over there but he wasn't even the guy who made the play,” Moore explained. “It was a guy who came from the complete opposite side and that's just from them watching a lot of film and knowing what's coming.

“It was a big mistake and as a quarterback, you can't make mistakes and you have to protect the football.”

Defensive end Jonah Elliss and the Utah defense also got the best of UCLA's offensive line, sacking Moore seven times and forcing three fumbles but

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Elliss finished the game as the Utes' leading tackler with 10 total tackles, including five for a loss, and 3.5 sacks.

“I think the total offense was an issue so we need to get that sorted out at every level,” coach Chip Kelly said. “I don't think it falls on one person.”

While the veteran coach wasn't willing to distribute the blame to Moore or the offensive line directly, the quarterback willingly accepted responsibility for the loss.

“We have the bye week coming up, so we will be watching a lot of film,” Moore said as he reflected on starting the season with three straight wins before the loss. “We aren't just taking this as a loss, but as a learning point.”

Kelly didn't want to speak specifically on the young quarterback's performance directly until he's had a chance to reevaluate the game, but eluded that the Bruins were thrown “off track” with their rushing attack.

UCLA's backfield was held to just nine rushing yards as TJ Harden (31) and Carson Steele (29) finished with season-low totals against a Utah defense that also held Moore to a loss of 51 yards.

“We had to throw a lot more because we were down, so that was part of it,” Kelly said. “We have to run the ball better than that to win football games.”

The Bruins' lack of focus appeared in the passing game as receivers were unable to connect on Moore's passes. Moore threw a pass to Josiah Norwood in the first quarter, but was unable to complete the catch for a potential touchdown on 3rd and 7.

Moore finished his first true road game, completing 15 of 35 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown against Utah, which moved up to No. 10 on Sunday.

Moore would target Norwood again with 3:39 remaining in the fourth quarter for a 17-yard touchdown, preventing a shutout.

Kelly was asked during the postgame press conference whether he considered switching to a different quarterback during the game.

“No,” Kelly said quickly before moving on to the next question.

It was the first game this season that the Bruins didn't play at least two quarterbacks in a game.

Washington State at UCLA, time/TV TBD