PASADENA – One week after shouldering the responsibility, Josh Rosen shouldered the opposition.
It was fitting on an odd night when UCLA was both on the verge of blowing out UNLV and being embarrassed by UNLV that the Bruins would win in part because of a block – and not just a bunch of passes – thrown by their celebrated quarterback.
“I wanted him to use his left shoulder rather than his right shoulder,” Coach Jim Mora said after UCLA’s 42-21 harder-than-anticipated victory. “I asked him if he could do that next time.”
Rosen’s second-quarter smack on Rebels defensive lineman Salanoa-Alo Wily helped Soso Jamabo to a 23-yard score en route to the Bruins opening a 28-7 lead in a game that ended right when it was supposed to, but wasn’t decided until much later than most people expected.