UCLA wins first Big Ten game on big day by Ethan Garbers – Daily News

PISCATAWAY, NJ – Ethan Garbers accounted for five touchdowns and helped UCLA football to its first Big Ten victory as the Bruins defeated Rutgers 35-32 on Saturday.

The Bruins (2-5, 1-4) ended a five-game losing streak and handed Rutgers its third straight loss, while Garbers set career highs for completions (32 on 38 attempts), yards (383) and touchdown passes (four ) sat. He was methodical in the quick passing game, throwing three of his touchdowns to running backs TJ Harden, Keegan Jones and Jalen Berger.

The senior quarterback added a 49-yard touchdown scramble and went without an interception for the first time this season.

UCLA hadn't scored more than 17 points in a game all season, but an efficient one-minute drill gave the Bruins a 21-10 lead by halftime.

Kyle Monangai ran for 103 yards and scored all three touchdowns in the second half for Rutgers (4-3, 1-3). But the Bruins stopped two two-point conversion attempts and Bryan Addison grabbed his second interception of the year with 5:25 left, hampering Rutgers' comeback.

Rutgers got the ball back and Monangai's third TD cut the deficit to three points with 1:45 to play, but Grant Gray recovered the ensuing onside kick for UCLA.

The teams exchanged 75-yard touchdown drives to open the game. Garbers found Logan Loya in the right corner of the end zone for a 5-yard score, Loya's team-leading third touchdown of the year. Rutgers canceled out QB Athan Kaliakmanis' 1-yard plunge.

Garbers' big success came toward the end of the second quarter. He went left, avoiding the defender who was closing in on him. From there, Garbers had the blockers to tiptoe down the sideline and put the Bruins back in the lead.

After Rutgers settled for a field goal with 1:08 left in the half, the Bruins sailed down the field with four consecutive completions. Garbers then connected with Harden for a 22-yard score and completed a 75-yard drive in 46 seconds.