BERKELEY – It was a revival of “Pac-12 After Dark,” with all the required craziness.
Plenty of offense. Huge momentum shifts one way, then the other.
Just when it seemed like UCLA had lost its mojo in coach Bob Chesney’s debut, the Bruins stayed on brand by conjuring some late magic.
But there was another twist to come Saturday night at Memorial Stadium, and not a good one for UCLA.
The Bruins lost Nico Iamaleava on the way to their 45-24 victory over the Golden Bears, the veteran quarterback needing to be helped off the field with less than five minutes remaining because of an apparent leg injury.
He was replaced by younger brother Madden Iamaleava, who helped UCLA hold off its longtime former Pac-12 nemesis.
With the score tied in the fourth quarter, the Bruins needed some help to reverse their fortunes
A pass went off a Cal receiver’s hands and into those of UCLA defensive back Ta’Shawn James. On the very next play, Bruins running back Wayne Knight ran for a 31-yard touchdown.
Voila, the Bruins were suddenly on their way, especially after James came up with another interception and Knight added another rushing score — his career-high third of the game, to quiet most of the sellout crowd except for a pocket of fans chanting “U-C-L-A!”
Bruins running back Anthony Woods poured it on with a 53-yard touchdown with 1:17 to go as the Bruins scored the game’s final 21 points.
James, a transfer from Iowa State and one of the team’s 63 newcomers, was the defensive star by forcing two turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Knight finished with 71 yards rushing in only eight carries, part of a UCLA rushing attack that produced 279 yards and six touchdowns. Woods had 118 yards and two touchdowns in eight carries.
Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 22 passes for 184 yards and one interception before his departure.
UCLA’s offense showed plenty of explosiveness early. The Bruins produced seven plays of 20 or more yards in the first half, matching its season high from an entire game in 2025.
But it was Cal who moved the ball more convincingly to open the second half. A drive that relied heavily on Adam Mohammed ended with the Golden Bears running back charging into the end zone for a two-yard touchdown that pulled his team into a 24-24 tie late in the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Cal’s defense started to put more pressure on Iamaleava, sacking him twice in the third quarter.
Iamealava was hurt on a running play in which he initially got up before badly limping and going back down to the turf and requiring medical attention.
Now the Bruins must hope their quarterback can return quickly with their home opener against San Diego State set for next weekend.
