PASADENA, Calif. — Ryan Agnew passed for 293 yards and a touchdown, Matt Araiza kicked three field goals and San Diego State defeated UCLA 23-14 on Saturday, marking the Aztecs’ first win over the Bruins.
It is San Diego State’s fifth victory over a Pac-12 team since 2016, but it was 0-21-1 against UCLA coming into the game.
Agnew completed 23 of 31 passes, and Kobe Smith had seven receptions for 131 yards and a score.
The difference in the game was time of possession and turnovers. The Aztecs controlled the ball for 38:16 and scored 10 points off a pair of UCLA turnovers.
San Diego State took a 10-7 lead during the final minute in the first quarter when Araiza hit a career-long 43-yard field goal. The Aztecs got the ball on their own 45 when Tariq Thompson recovered a Mike Martinez fumble.
The Aztecs then took a 10-point lead as Agnew connected with Kobe Smith for a 36-yard touchdown. Smith caught the ball at the Bruins’ 6 and dragged defensive back Jay Shaw into the end zone.
The touchdown came two plays after Caden McDonald recovered Dorian Thompson-Robinson‘s fumble following a sack by Kyahva Tezino.
Greg Dulcich brought the Bruins within 17-14 midway through the third quarter when he caught a 20-yard touchdown from Thompson-Robinson. That would be as close as they would get, though, as Ariaza added a pair of field goals.
Thompson-Robinson completed 24 of 35 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown. Joshua Kelley, who missed last week’s opener at Cincinnati due to a knee injury, had 57 yards on 14 carries and a touchdown.
Things looked good for UCLA early. It scored on its first series when Kelley ran around left end from 5 yards out. San Diego State responded on its next possession as Chase Jasmin‘s 2-yard TD capped a 14-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 7:13.
THE TAKEAWAY
San Diego State: The Aztecs now have more wins in the Pac-12 the past four seasons than Oregon State.
UCLA: Chip Kelly is 0-5 in nonconference games as Bruins coach, with four of the defeats coming to Group of 5 teams.
STAYING AWAY
Saturday’s game drew 36,951, which is the smallest crowd to attend a UCLA game in 22 years. It is also the second straight Bruins home game, dating to last season’s finale against Stanford, that has drawn under 40,000.
UP NEXT
San Diego State: Travels to New Mexico State next Saturday. The Aztecs have won seven straight in the series.
UCLA: Hosts No. 4 Oklahoma next Saturday. The Bruins have lost four of five to the Sooners, including 49-21 last season.