UCLA football outduels Purdue in high-scoring Big Ten opener

PASADENA — UCLA’s offense was worth the price of admission in its Big Ten opener against Purdue, powering the Bruins to their first conference win under Bob Chesney.

The Bruins (3-0, 1-0 Big Ten) dominated through the air and on the ground in their 52-38 victory over Purdue (1-2, 0-1).

Although the Bruins’ offense took care of business, the same could not be said for the defense. UCLA struggled to get the Boilermakers off the field as chunk plays and fourth-down conversions kept Purdue in the game.

The Boilermakers took a four-point lead early in the third quarter, but the Bruins quickly rallied, outscoring Purdue 28-17 in the second half to pull away.

Nico Iamaleava had his best game of the season, completing 19 of 31 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns.

The Bruins’ passing game, which had mostly been an afterthought through the first two games, shined in the first half.

Iamaleava tossed his first touchdown pass of the year to cap the Bruins’ opening possession. He found Semaj Morgan for a 20-yard touchdown to give UCLA an early 7-0 lead.

Purdue had a lightning-quick response. On its first play from scrimmage, Ryan Browne hit Xavier Townsend on a drag route, and Townsend did the rest on a 75-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Morgan hauled in his second touchdown of the night when Iamaleava found him for a 27-yard score to put the Bruins back on top 14-7.

The Boilermakers appeared headed for another promising drive, but two plays into the possession, UCLA forced its first turnover of the game. Linebacker Sammy Omosigho forced a fumble inside Purdue territory, giving the Bruins’ offense a short field.

It was the first of two forced fumbles by Omosigho, bringing his season total to four. The Oklahoma transfer has been a pivotal part of the Bruins’ turnaround under defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.

UCLA relied on the legs of Wayne Knight to get into the end zone. Knight scored his seventh touchdown of the season on a 6-yard run to give the Bruins a two-score lead.

Purdue scored a pair of touchdowns to tie the game at 21 late in the half.

Just before halftime, Mateen Bhaghani made a 34-yard field goal to send the Bruins into the break with a 24-21 lead.

On the opening possession of the second half, Purdue drove down the field in five plays to take its first lead of the game. The Boilermakers’ advantage did not last long, as Anthony Woods rumbled for a 16-yard touchdown on the following possession to put UCLA back ahead 31-28.

Knight found the end zone again on a tough 7-yard run to give the Bruins a 10-point lead.

For the second game in a row, a third UCLA running back found the end zone when Jaivian Thomas scored on a 17-yard touchdown run to put the Bruins back up by double digits.

The Boilermakers did not go away, scoring on a 1-yard run from Ijeboi to make it 45-38 with 12:38 left in the game.

Landon Ellis caught his first touchdown in a UCLA uniform late in the fourth quarter. Iamaleava found Ellis for a 6-yard touchdown pass to put the game away.