BERKELEY — Dean Kennedy promised explosives.
The UCLA offensive coordinator delivered.
UCLA produced seven plays of 20-plus yards in the first half, matching its 2025 game-high. The Bruins scored six rushing touchdowns, mirroring their total through six games last season.
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The Bruins offense took a break, going scoreless in the third quarter, but came back to life in the final nine minutes, scoring twice to seal a 45-24 victory.
Quarterback Nico Iamaleava threw for 184 yards and added 29 yards and a touchdown on the ground. UCLA rushed for a total of 277 yards as three different ball-carriers found the end zone. James Madison transfer Wayne Knight led the way with 101 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns. Anthony Woods found paydirt twice
Those two backs scored three in the final nine minutes to help UCLA (1-0) break away from Cal (0-1).
Both of Knight’s late scores were set up by an interception from safety Ta’Shawn James, whose playing time increased after Tao Johnson sustained an injury on the first possession of the game.
Before James’ picks, Cal quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw for over 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Sagapolutele, in particular, tore up UCLA’s defense after it took a three-score lead ahead of halftime.
With 1:49 remaining in the first half, linebacker Samuel Omosigho forced Sagapolutele to fumble when he came off the edge for a sack. UCLA took over on Cal’s 37-yard line, but three plays later on first down from the 13, Iamaleava underthrew Rowe and Kingston Lopa intercepted the pass. Cal took over with 51 seconds remaining and Sagapolutele only needed three throws to take the Golden Bears 88 yards for a touchdown.
Kennedy, though, wasn’t fazed.
With 13 seconds left, UCLA took over on its own 30-yard line. Instead of kneeling, the Bruins went three-wide and Mikey Matthews broke free over the seam. Iamaleava hit him in stride for a 43-yard gain to set up a 38-yard field goal from Mateen Bhaghani.
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His moxie in that moment was present throughout the first half.
He kept Cal’s defense on the back foot. His hurry-up offense controlled the tempo. He dialed up various personnel packages. He called creative plays that surprised the Golden Bears. He switched between quick-hitting screens and scheming wide receivers open downfield. He confirmed the notion that the Bruins’ running back room would be a three-headed monster, deploying each back in distinct, yet effective, ways.
It coalesced as the Bruins gained 302 yards of offense in the first half.
On their first drive, Brian Rowe Jr. gained consecutive first downs with a screen pass and an end around. The Bruins capped the drive with a read option as quarterback Nico Iamaleava faked the handoff to Anthony Woods and rushed for a nine-yard touchdown.
UCLA scored two more rushing touchdowns from different ball carriers. Woods broke an interior run that was initially stuffed down the sideline for a 31-yard score, and Knight punched one in from eight yards out.
After the back-and-forth end to the first half, Cal drowned over half of the third-quarter clock with one methodical drive. Adam Mohammed rushed 10 times for 65 yards on the game, marching the Golden Bears down the field, and eventually punching it in from three yards out to cap a 14-play, 85-yard, game-tying series.
Mohammed totaled 128 yards on 28 carries.
Constantly gashing UCLA on the ground, Cal elected to keep its offense on the field on a fourth-and-3 from its own 47-yard line. Bastian Swinney snapped the ball before Sagapolutele was ready and the quarterback had to eat the play as UCLA took over in Golden Bears’ territory.
That was the first of three offensive debacles from Cal that resulted in positive field position for UCLA.
The Bruins capitalized each time to ensure the opening game of the Bob Chesney era was a resounding victory.
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More to come on this story.