Bruins give HC Foster first win

The DeShaun Foster era has started on the right foot for the UCLA Bruins. In 2014, UCLA posted a road win against Virginia. The Bruins had not opened a season on the road with a victory since. That changed when UCLA traveled to Hawai’i and defeated the Rainbows, 16-13. 

“I was just happy to get the victory,” Foster said. “That was really it – it was really emotional in there, so it’s big that I was able to get a victory in my first game. I’m just glad that my players were putting it on themselves to get us that victory.”

To get the win, UCLA had to respond and come back from a 10-point deficit at the half. When the third quarter rolled around, UCLA stared down a 10-0 disadvantage. The second half turned out to be a different story for the Bruins. 

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— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 1, 2024

UCLA’s defense surrendered just three points in the last two quarters and the Bruins outscored the Rainbows by 13 in the second half to walk away with the road win. 

“We didn’t really start the first half the way that we wanted to, but I was just glad with the way that they came out in the second half,” said Foster. “We came out and executed and it was about us more than exactly what they were doing to us. I just liked that my guys came out and fought hard. We continued to play and we were able to play and get the victory.”

The Bruins secured the win against the Rainbows by getting two field goals from placekicker Mateen Bhaghani, including the game-winner with 56 seconds left in the game. 

“First game winner in college,” Bhaghani said after the game. “It felt amazing. Only one word going through my head: execution. Our snapper, our punter, it was a great operation. A great hold. Everything just kind of fell into its place. Felt natural.”

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— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) September 1, 2024

Bhaghani added that there was a lot of things going through his mind on that final kick. 

“Just a rush of emotions,” he said. “In the moment, just super laser focus and it happens super fast. But honestly, just a great feeling.”

The key in the second half for UCLA was defense. The Bruins got stingy over the last two quarters, allowing the Rainbows just three first downs in the second half (zero in the fourth quarter). By the way his team responded, Foster must have had plenty to say to his players during intermission. 

“Guys were listening,” Foster remarked. “We were just shooting ourselves in the foot. That was on us – it was what we were doing. Hawai’i has a great team. They played hard and they did a great job with this game.” 

“But we still wanted to go out there and play our brand of football. I don’t think that we showed that in the first half. But in the second half, we were able to go out there and score some points, get some stops, and pull out the victory,” Foster added.  

Top Image Caption: PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 10: UCLA Bruins running back coach DeShaun Foster during the college football game between the Alabama State Hornets and the UCLA Bruins on September 10, 2022, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire)