UCLA football’s winless burden lifted by running backs’ receiving yards

The UCLA football team had waited a long time to use a particular offensive formation on Saturday afternoon in Piscataway, New Jersey.

“The fact that we got into victory formation says enough,” head coach DeShaun Foster told reporters after the game. “That’s what we wanted to get to and that’s the best play in football.”

A weight was seemingly lifted on Saturday evening when the UCLA offense grit its teeth to end a four-game losing streak and achieve the program’s first Big Ten Conference win by beating Rutgers 35-32.

Foster addressed the media with his signature level-headedness but his tone was proud. Minutes before, his team was running across SHI Field to celebrate with the Bruin fans who had made the cross-country flight for the game.

“I really just connected with people that came to support,” defensive back Bryan Addison said. “Saying, ‘Hey, this is a far game, we’re on the other side of the country.’ So, it was just cool to see all those people come out and show that we can travel this far over here and play with these types of teams.”

The UCLA offense switched gears and used its athletic running backs to rack up yards through the air. Kegan Jones, who was used as a receiver in Chip Kelly’s offense last season, was the Bruins’ leading receiver on Saturday with five catches for 114 yards.

T.J. Harden had five receptions for 54 yards and Jalen Berger, who’s from New Jersey, had one catch for nine yards. Berger was the leading rusher with 28 net yards on 10 carries.

“On our first play we had the back motion out and I threw a little stick route,” Garbers said. “From then, I knew that they didn’t cover back there. I was definitely looking to exploit that with a guy like Keegan Jones back there. You get him the ball at the line of scrimmage, he turns that thing into 20, 40 yards. Today he turned it into a house call.”

Jones’ 67-yard touchdown reception was both the longest pass completion of Garbers’ career and the longest reception of Jones’ career. Harden also had his first touchdown reception of the season and Berger had his first touchdown of any kind as a Bruin.

Jones also had 100 yards after catch. UCLA recorded 223 total yards after catch, showing individual players’ toughness and physical ability.

“I was surprised,” Jones said of his touchdown. “I was like, ‘E, E, E!’ Then I saw him look at me. I was like, yeah, here it comes and I got it. I was like, man, I got to take this thing to the crib.”

Schwesinger continues to contribute

Linebacker Carson Schwesinger’s 10 total tackles against Rutgers extended his double-digit tackling streak to five games. It’s the first time a UCLA player has achieved the feat since Eric Kendricks did in 2014.

“It’s all in his training,” Foster said. “Everything on special teams — he’s on. And he’s a guy who wants to be out there. We’re not forcing him. People respond to him. He might not say much, but actions speak louder than words and they try to follow the way that he leads.”

Linebacker Kain Medrano was next in total tackles with seven and edge rusher Oluwafemi Oladejo had five total tackles and was credited with half a sack and half a tackle for loss.