Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s five total touchdowns powered No. 18 UCLA to its second win over a top-20 opponent in as many weeks, this time knocking off No. 11 Utah 42-32 on Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.
UCLA (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) led from wire-to-wire, but Utah threatened all the way into the fourth quarter before Thompson-Robinson’s fourth touchdown pass. The 70-yard connection with Logan Loya pushed a 28-25 Bruins lead to 10 points, and Thompson-Robinson eclipsed Brett Hundley for the most career touchdown passes in UCLA history.
Thompson-Robinson finished Saturday’s win with 76 scoring throws during his time with the Bruins.
On the ensuing possession, Darius Muasau forced a fumble from Utah quarterback Cameron Rising. Jaylin Davies took the recovery 37 yards down to the goal line, where Zach Charbonnet finished the job with a touchdown carry.
Charbonnet rushed for 198 yards on 22 carries.
Utah (4-2, 2-1) made one final push to rally, but a failed conversion attempt at the UCLA 32-yard line on fourth down continued a game-long trend for the Utes.
Utah had four possessions that ended at the Bruins 28-yard line or better combine for just three points.
They included a Muasau interception of Rising on a first-quarter pass down to the 5-yard line, a drive early in the second quarter that stalled at the 5-yard line resulting in a field goal, a missed field-goal attempt from 43 yards just before halftime and the turnover-on-downs on the final offensive possession.
The Utes cut into the deficit in the final minute when Clark Phillips III produced a pick-6 for the second time in as many weeks, returning an interception 80 yards in the final minute.
The misfire was a rarity for Thompson-Robinson on an otherwise spectacular day. He completed 18 of 23 pass attempts for 299 yards and spread his four touchdown throws to three pass-catchers, including Jake Bobo, who caught a pair of scores for a second consecutive week.
Thompson-Robinson started the day’s scoring with a 7-yard touchdown run.
Rising went 23-for-32 passing for 287 yards and ran for a pair of touchdowns. Tavion Thomas led the Utes with 91 yards rushing on 18 carries.
–Field Level Media
