Marcus McMaryion ran for four touchdowns and passed for another as Fresno State snapped a 10-game losing streak against Power Five teams with a 38-14 victory over UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl.
The senior quarterback was 22 of 33 for 270 yards as the Bulldogs got their ninth win over a Pac-12 program since 2000. Three of those have come against the Bruins.
Fresno State, which came into the game leading the FBS in takeaways with eight, scored 17 points off four Bruins turnovers.
UCLA freshman quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 10 of 24 for 151 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He also had a team-high 49 yards rushing on eight carries. The Bruins, who are in their first year under Chip Kelly, are 0-3 for the first time since 1971.
The Bulldogs (2-1) scored on their first three drives to take a 16-0 lead. McMaryion opened the scoring with 10:03 remaining in the first quarter with a 1-yard bootleg off left end. A Kyle Riddering 10-yard pass from McMaryion late in the first quarter and an Asa Fuller 28-yard field goal extended Fresno State's lead to 16-0 with 14:17 remaining in the second quarter.
After UCLA's Odua Isibor recovered a McMaryion fumble at the Fresno State 43, the Bruins got on the scoreboard when Theo Howard hauled in a 45-yard touchdown pass from Thompson-Robinson. UCLA got within 16-14 with 12:59 remaining in the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Bolu Olorunfunmi.
Fresno State then put the game away with three straight drives that ended with McMaryion touchdown runs. The last two scores were set up after Thompson-Robinson interceptions.
U.S. & World
TRICKERATION
Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford outtricked Kelly on a 2-point conversion during the third quarter. Using the gun monster formation, with four players lined up on the far hash on both sides and three players in the center, backup QB Jorge Reyna threw a pass to tight end Gunner Javernick to give the Bulldogs a 24-14 lead.
THE TAKEAWAY
Fresno State: Tedford gets his first win over Kelly in four attempts and improves to 2-4 in games at the Rose Bowl. The Bulldogs also have something that no other Group of Five team can claim — a three-game winning streak over UCLA.
UCLA: The young Bruins continue to sabotage themselves with penalties. They were flagged 11 times for 96 yards in Saturday's loss.
UP NEXT
Fresno State: The Bulldogs have next week off before they host Toledo on Sept. 29.
UCLA: The Bruins have their bye week before traveling to Colorado on Sept. 28.
