UCLA football comes from behind to win opener at Hawai’i – Orange County Register

HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 31: Ethan Garbers #4 of the UCLA Bruins throws a pass downfield during the first half of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on August 31, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 31: Moliki Matavao #88 of the UCLA Bruins attempts to run with the ball after making a catch and is shoved out of bounds by Cam Stone #4 of the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors during the first half of the game at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on August 31, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 31: during the first half of the game at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on August 31, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 31: Keanu Williams #99 of the UCLA Bruins and Oluwafemi Oladejo #2 celebrate a defensive stop during the first half of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on August 31, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

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HONOLULU, HI – AUGUST 31: Ethan Garbers #4 of the UCLA Bruins throws a pass downfield during the first half of the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on August 31, 2024 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)

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HONOLULU (AP) — Mateen Bhaghani converted a 32-yard field goal with 56 seconds to play to help the UCLA football team open its season with a 16-13 win over Hawai’i on Saturday night.

The Bruins (1-0) did all their scoring in the second half to erase a 10-0 halftime deficit against the Rainbow Warriors (1-1).

UCLA overcame a lackluster first 30 minutes of the game and eventually evened the score at 13 with 14:05 to play on Bhaghani’s 37-yard field goal that came five plays after an interception by D.J. Justice.

The Bruins started their final drive with 3:08 to play and drove 45 yards in seven plays, capped by Bhaghani’s game-winning 32-yard field goal from the left hash that split the uprights.

Hawai’i scored on its opening possession when it orchestrated a nine-play, 73-yard drive that was punctuated by a 19-yard touchdown pass from Brayden Schager to a wide open Pofele Ashlock. Schager was 7-for-7 passing on the drive for 51 yards, which was extended by a 19-yard gain by punter Lucas Borrow on fourth-and-6.

Kansei Matsuzawa’s 28-yard field goal as time expired in the first half gave Hawai’i a 10-0 lead at the intermission. The field goal was set up by Logan Taylor’s interception and 7-yard return to the UCLA 5-yard line.

The Bruins got on the board after they cashed in their first possession of the second half with a 39-yard scoring strike from Ethan Garbers to Rico Flores Jr. The touchdown pass capped an eight-play, 96-yard drive that took 4:36 off the clock.

UCLA was picked to finish 15th out of 18 teams in a preseason Big Ten Conference media poll. It entered the game — its first under coach DeShaun Foster and its debut as a Big Ten Conference member — with much uncertainty, but the Bruins may have more questions after week 1 than in the lead up to it.

Despite the loss, Hawai’i hung with the Bruins for more than 59 minutes. The Rainbow Warriors, who were picked to finish ninth in the Mountain West Conference, were seeking their first win over a Power Conference team since they beat Arizona in 2019.

UP NEXT

UCLA will have a bye next week before it opens Big Ten Conference play at home against Indiana on Sept. 14.