Defense pressures Buffs QB Sanders
PASADENA ❯❯ UCLA football's defensive game plan went according to plan in Saturday's victory over Colorado.
The Bruins defense held the Buffalos to negative rushing yards in the first half and 25 for the game, sacked quarterback Shadeur Sanders seven times and tacked on numerous quarterback hurries.
“(Sanders) is the key. How he goes is how that offense goes,” UCLA coach Chip Kelly said on Monday. “That's what our attention is this week. We need to disrupt the timing of the routes and we need to get pressure on the quarterback.”
Laiatu Latu had a sack and a half and a quarterback hurry in the first half, bringing his sack total for the year to eight.
Sanders was still able to put up 217 passing yards with no interceptions, completing 27 of his 43 passes. Sanders had been sacked an average of 4.9 times per game for a total of 34 times heading into Saturday's matchup.
“The best quarterbacks are probably the toughest quarterbacks,” Kelly said. “The guys that can stand in there and even though there's a rush coming, they still deliver the ball where it's supposed to be and not put it in harm's way. And he does that a ton.”
Fifteen different Bruins recorded a tackle in the first half. Gabriel Murphy led the way with four tackles, a sack and two tackles for a loss.
Honoring Donahue
UCLA football players reached out to touch the “TD 42” sign one by one as they entered the Rose Bowl on Saturday afternoon before their game against Colorado.
The sign is attached to the Rose Bowl's latest addition: a bronze state honoring former UCLA football coach Terry Donahue, which was unveiled on Friday afternoon.
“On behalf of the Terry Donahue family, we are humbled by this outpouring of support for the Terry Donahue Statue and 151 Roses Dedication,” his wife, Andrea Donahue, said in a press release
Andrea Donahue served as an honorary captain for Saturday's game and was recognized during the coin toss.
Donahue is the winningest football coach in UCLA, his alma mater, and the Pac-12 Conference's history.
After five seasons as assistant coach, he was named to succeed Dick Vermeil at the helm in January 1976. He finished his 20-year coaching career with a 15174-8 record (8-4-1 postseason) with the Bruins, including wins in the Rose Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and Cotton Bowl among others.
“The Rose Bowl has always played a meaningful part in our lives and provided us many opportunities and great joy,” Andrea Donahue said. “We can't begin to express our gratitude for this iconic stadium and all the people that make it so special. It is a great honor to continue Coach Terry Donahue's legacy so that he may continue to impact the lives of others.”
Recruiting trail
St. John Bosco running back Cameron Jones was among the recruits in attendance for the Colorado game at the Rose Bowl.
Jones committed to running back coach DeShaun Foster and the Bruins in July.
“It was the coaching staff,” Jones said for the reasoning for his UCLA commitment. “Coach (DeShaun) Foster played there and you can go wrong with Coach Chip Kelly.”
Mission Viejo offensive lineman Mark Schroller was also spotted on the sidelines talking with offensive line coach Tim Drevno before the game.
JSerra linebacker Madden Faraimo was in attendance as well. Faraimo, a four-star recruit, is the younger brother of UCLA pitcher Megan Faraimo, who was named Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year twice and was a Top 10 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist after the 2023 season.