UCLA football overpowered by Utah in season opener

PASADENA — It was always going to be a challenge for UCLA football’s defense. A brand-new starting 11 against a trusted offensive coordinator-quarterback combo, and an offensive line — featuring potentially two first-round draft selections — returning all five starters.

Just a few days ago, UCLA coach DeShaun Foster said that his Bruins were up for that challenge, ready for the opportunity against a top-end front line that could be the best they will challenge all year long.

Utah put a quick end to Foster’s assumption, faster than any of the captive 35,032 fans at the Rose Bowl would have likely expected, running a relentless attack on the shoulders of quarterback Devon Dampier — a New Mexico transfer who arrived in Salt Lake City with his offensive coordinator, Jason Beck — in a 43-10 manhandling of UCLA on Saturday night.

Like a growing tree, still finding its roots in the soil, the Bruins’ defensive branches bent and broke. Dampier led the Utes with 87 rushing yards of Utah’s 286 overall rushing yards and 492 yards of total offense, using his tackles Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu to his advantage.

Bruins safety Key Lawerence whiffed on a potential tackle-for-loss tackle in the second quarter. Utah’s Smith Snowden — listed as a cornerback — took the end around, juked Lawrence, and took the ball in for an eight-yard touchdown run. Much like Lawrence, tackling across the Bruins’ defense left more questions than answers.

A play before Dampier (206 passing yards and two touchdowns) dumped a two-yard pass for a touchdown to increase Utah’s lead to 36-10 in the fourth quarter. Utah Tech transfer safety Scooter Jackson threw Utes wide receiver Tobias Merriweather toward the end zone instead of trying to down him. UCLA linebacker Isaiah Chisom and defensive back Kanye Clark also had their woes of missed tackles leading to big gains.

No matter what Nico Iamaleava did in his UCLA debut, his defense failed to keep the score close enough for the Tennessee transfer to surge to heights on Saturday night.

Iamaleava, in his return to Southern California, where he played at Warren High, started slow, ending his first two drives with a turnover on downs (missing a wide-open Jalen Berger in empty, green space, and instead tossing an incompletion to Mikey Matthews) and a punt.

He ended on the wrong foot too, missing Kwazi Gilmer a few yards above the line of scrimmage, sending a pass awry and into the arms of Utah linebacker Trey Reynolds for an interception that all but wrapped up the game with just over eight minutes remaining.

Iamaleava did show flashes of brilliance; however, the talent that helped lead Tennessee to the College Football Playoff a year ago

The 6-foot-6 signal caller recorded a 21-yard scamper — ending the day with 47 rushing yards on 12 carries — on a designed run in the second quarter, shedding two tackles on his way into Utah territory. Iamaleava capped that drive with a 19-yard touchdown pass to running back Anthony Woods on a wheel route.

Iamaleava ended Saturday’s contest with 136 passing yards on 11-of-22 passing, one passing touchdown and one interception.