UCLA vs. Fresno State Week 3: Live Updates, Highlights, Analysis
UCLA football is playing Fresno State in Week 3 of the 2021 college football season, with the Bulldogs coming into the game riding a three-game winning streak in the head-to-head series.
Stay tuned for injury and personnel updates, highlights and other key events to keep an eye on all day long.
FINAL: Fresno State 40, No. 13 UCLA 37
Haener throws potential game-winner after Bruins take the lead
11:28 p.m.: Jake Haener continues to be a thorn in the Bruins side, throwing a go-ahead touchdown whilst injured - unable to put pressure on his leg.
Kirkwood forces fumble, Charbonnet gets 2nd touchdown
10:55 p.m.: Devin Kirkwood forced a fumble after a reception did not receive a whistle after three Bruins tackled the Bulldogs' receiver. The Bruins took over and took the lead in the middle of the 4th quarter. Zach Charbonnet gets a 3-yard touchdown, getting muscled into the end zone by the Bruins' offensive line. A two-point conversion attempt was failed when Dorian Thompson-Robinson fumbled.
UCLA falls on fumbled ball, Thompson-Robinson throws a touchdown
10:45 p.m.: Carl Jones Jr. stripped the ball from Jake Haener, allowing Myles Jackson to grab the ball. After a small drive down the field, Dorian Thompson-Robinson found Kyle Phillips for a 42-yard touchdown. There was a review to see if Phillips held possession, but the play stood.
26-24, Bulldogs lead.
Three straight turnovers, end of 3rd quarter
10:30 p.m.: Both the Bulldogs and Bruins trade turnover on downs, trying to extend on 4th and 1 each. After receiving the ball from the Bulldogs' turnover, Dorian Thompson-Robinson found Chase Cota downfield. Cota got hit near the Bulldogs' 25-yard line and dropped the ball resulting in the third turnover of the half.
The 3rd quarter ended with Fresno State still up 26-17.
Thompson-Robinson starts the half with a score
10:00 p.m.: In less than three minutes into the 3rd quarter, Dorian Thompson-Robinson threw more completions (3) than in the first half (2) on one drive. Meeting the hands of Kam Brown for a 39-yard touchdown, the score could be the jumpstart to a Bruins' comeback attempt.
After the touchdown, the Bulldogs and Bruins traded empty drives. Still a 6 point game in the 3rd quarter. 23-17 Bulldogs.
HALFTIME: Fresno State 23, No. 13 UCLA 10
9:22 p.m.: The Bruins have been hounded by the Bulldogs offense in the 1st half. The upset bid is alive and well.
Jake Haener has thrown for 200 yards on 21-28 passing while Dorian Thompson-Robinson has only thrown 5 passes altogether.
The plays that summed up the entire half would be when Kenny Churchwell II intercepted the ball in the endzone, carrying the ball 33 yards into UCLA territory. The very next possession, Thompson-Robinson attempted to throw, but the ball slipped out of his hand causing a fumble. The fumble gave the Bulldogs better field possession from when the interception occurred. This led to a field goal that upped their lead to 13.
Two injuries, Bruins fall further behind
9:00 p.m.: Otito Ogbonnia and Quentin Lake both came off the field with undisclosed injuries. Ogbonnia was holding his leg, limping as he came off, not back on the field yet. Lake returned halfway back in the 2nd quarter.
The Bulldogs and Jake Haener are making the Bruins work, creating open space and another score. Ronnie Rivers found the endzone with a 36-yard touchdown. Answers will be needed for the Bruins in the 2nd half.
Bulldogs score, Bruins get three back
8:56 p.m.: Fresno State took the lead early in the 2nd half. Jake Haener led the Bulldogs downfield to make the 79-yard drive happen. A run to the right side of the endzone left the Bruins down 13-6.
Kazmeir Allen had a 66-yard kickoff return to start off the drive, but the Bruins got stuffed on back-to-back possessions while in Bulldog territory. Nicholas Barr-Mira placed a 39-yard FG between the uprights making the game a tad closer.
13-10 Bulldogs lead.
Charbonnet gets in end zone, caps quick drive from Bruins
8:30 p.m.: Dorian Thompson-Robinson led the Bruins to the endzone giving the Bruins a 7-6 lead. Early in the drive, Thompson Robinson connected with Kam Brown for a 38-yard pass and then had two 10 plus yard gains on runs for himself. Ethan Fernea had an 8-yard run to get the Bruins within the Bulldogs' 10-yard line. Zach Charbonnet capped off the drive with a 6-yard run for the touchdown. The drive took a total of 1:49 to complete.
Early drives for both teams, Bulldogs score, Marrazzo starts
8:06 p.m.: Both first drives for the Bruins and the Bulldogs came up with very little yardage gained. The Bulldogs went 21 yards forward before punting after Jake Haener threw over a wide-open receiver near the end zone. The Bruins only went 6 yards, with a holding penalty carrying the offense back to their own 11-yard line.
The Bulldogs get a touchdown midway through the 1st quarter. Ronnie Rivers slips in on a run up the middle. Haener led the Bulldogs on an impressive drive that featured a 25-yard pass to convert a 3rd and long.
Sam Marrazzo started the first drive for the Bruins, re-entering the position he had previously started in.
Late-night quarterback dual, Marrazzo practicing pregame
7:17 p.m.: There are less than 30 minutes to go until kickoff at the Rose Bowl. Tonight's contest features two potential NFL draftees in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bulldogs' quarterback Jake Haener.
Thompson-Robinson has a 174.9 passer rating through his first two games and is slinging the ball 20.5 yards per completion, good enough for the top spot in college football. Haener has thrown for 1,009 yards through his first three games and led the Bulldogs to a near upset against No. 4 Oregon. The matchup should be an entertaining duel between the two west coast QBs.
Bruin center Sam Marrazzo was taking snaps pregame to both Thompson-Robinson and backup quarterback Ethan Garbers. Marrazzo missed the first two games of the season with a knee injury that occurred during the Stanford game last season. Jon Gaines II had slipped into the role and could still start, but if Marrazzo is ready to go, he should get action under center.
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