PASADENA, Calif. — – UCLA knew it was in for a challenge against the nation’s second-ranked rusher in Iowa. Kaleb Johnson.

Not only did the Bruins hold Johnson to his lowest rushing performance of the season, but UCLA’s ground game finally shifted out of first gear.

TJ Harden had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season and Ethan Garbers threw two touchdown passes as the Bruins rallied to a 20-17 victory Friday night.

Carson Schwesinger had two interceptions to help UCLA earn its third straight victory.

“We went into this week knowing it was a challenge and we were ready to take it on,” Schwesinger said.

Harden totaled 125 yards on 20 carries, the fourth time the junior has eclipsed the century mark in his career. His 15-yard gain up the middle after the 2-minute timeout gave UCLA a first down and put the game away.

“I knew I had to play a game like this. We saw the opportunity we had to throw the ball against them,” Harden said. “We did a great job picking up blocks consistently.”

The Bruins had a 415-265 advantage overall, including 211-80 on the floor.

Johnson, who averaged 142.1 rushing yards per game, recorded a game-high 49 yards on 18 carries.

“For me, in a nutshell, they handled the ball extremely efficiently, and we didn’t. Really, I think they played the way they wanted to play,” the coach said of Iowa, Kirk Ferentz.

Strategist Brendan Sullivan sprained his ankle in the third quarter after taking a hit from the UCLA linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo on a pass recovered by Schwesinger. Jackson Stratton came in and led the Hawkeyes on a 13-play TD drive, capped by Kamari Moulton’s 2-yard left tackle to tie the game at 17-17 early in the fourth quarter.

Mateen Bhaghani’s 27-yard field goal with 4:49 left put the Bruins away for good. Bhaghani also connected on a 57-yarder early in the second quarter for the second-longest field goal in school history.

“We came out and really executed the way we wanted to,” coach DeShaun Foster said. “They took pride in wanting to surpass them and we did.”

Garbers, who completed 21 of 34 passes for 204 yards, was able to lead the Bruins (4-5, 3-4 Big Ten) to victory despite three turnovers in the first half. His two interceptions in the first quarter, including one in the end zone, gave him 10 points for Iowa. The senior also committed a fumble at the Iowa 3-yard line, which was recovered by Jaden Harrell in the end zone as the Bruins came up empty twice in the red zone during the second quarter.

Garbers rallied the Bruins with two touchdown passes in the second quarter.

After Bhaghani’s first basket, Titus Mokiao-Atimalala tied it midway through the second quarter on a 2-yard reception that was set up by Schwesinger’s first pick at the Iowa 45. Garbers then connected with a wide open Logan Loya for a 29-yard touchdown with 55 seconds remaining in the first half.

“I didn’t start the game the way I wanted to with the turnovers. We were moving the ball up and down the court well. I knew it was all there and I continued to trust our guys,” said Garbers.

Iowa took a 7-0 lead three minutes into the game on Johnson’s 2-yard run. It was the first time the Hawkeyes scored a touchdown on their opening drive this season.

It was also the juniors’ 21st touchdown of the season, setting the Hawkeyes’ single-season records for touchdowns and points.

“Obviously it’s a disappointing result for us. I just told the team, you know, one thing about football, you usually get what you deserve, and we definitely didn’t play well enough to hope to win tonight in any category,” Ferentz said after Iowa fell to 6-4 and 4-3 in conference play. “So disappointing, and nothing really worked for us.”

Takeaways

Iowa: The Hawkeyes lost for just the third time in 22 November games dating back to 2019.

UCLA: After going 1-5 at the halfway point, the Bruins have hopes of securing a bowl bid with three straight wins. It would be quite a turnaround after people were already expressing doubts about first-year coach Foster.

To be continued

Iowa: at Maryland on November 23.

UCLA: At Washington next Friday.

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