ScoringLive staff
September 1, 2024, 7:26am
Hawaii hung tough with UCLA all night, but came up just shy in a 16-13 loss at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.
Mateen Bhaghani made three second-half field goals, including the go-ahead score with his 32-yard kick with 56 seconds to play, to help the Bruins (1-0) from the upset-minded Rainbow Warriors (1-1).
Hawaii led 10-0 at halftime, but was unable to hold off UCLA, which posted 249 of its 343 yards of total offense in the final 30 minutes.
Brayden Schager threw for 227 yards on 25-of-42 passing with one interception. His 19-yard touchdown pass to Pofele Ashlock opened the scoring with 7:43 on the clock in the first quarter.
Kansei Matsuzawa knocked through a 28-yard field goal on the final play of the first half.
The Bruins got on the board with Ethan Garbers' 39-yard TD pass to Rico Flores Jr. at the 8:41 mark of the third quarter.
The teams traded field goals in the final four-plus minutes of the third quarter and Hawaii held a slim 13-10 advantage going into the final stanza.
Bhaghani evened the score with his 37-yard field goal 55 seconds into the fourth quarter.
UCLA began its final possession with 3:08 on the clock. It drove 45 yards in seven plays, capped by Bhaghani's game-winning field goal.
Hawaii was unable to get past its own 30-yard line before the final whistle.
Ashlock finished with nine receptions for 112 yards.
Peter Manuma led Hawaii defensively with 7 1/2 tackles and one pass break up.
Hawaii will have a bye before it plays at Sam Houston on Sept. 14.
It was the Bruins' first game as a member of the Big Ten Conference and its first under coach DeShaun Foster.