UCLA avoids disaster, rallying past Hawaii in DeShaun Foster's coaching debut

DeShaun Foster has long contended that nothing said about him or his team mattered once it played ball.

UCLA ’s new coach is too inexperienced? Play ball.

The Bruins won’t be able to master a complex NFL offense? Play ball.

They’re headed for a rough debut in the Big Ten ? Play ball.

The Bruins finally got to play ball, and it wasn’t pretty. Far from it. What transpired on a sweltering afternoon Saturday at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex only reinforced all the preseason doubts even after UCLA rallied for a 16-13 victory over Hawaii .

Nearly midway into the third quarter, it looked like the highlight of Foster’s day might be walking off the team bus with a collection of colorful leis draped around his neck. He certainly wasn’t feeling the aloha spirit watching an offense that stumbled or special teams that looked wholly unprepared while the Bruins fell behind by 10 points in the first half.

Disaster was averted thanks to a defense that stiffened and an offense that started moving the ball at something beyond a snail’s pace. Quarterback Ethan Garbers shook off some epic first-half struggles to move UCLA into position for Mateen Bhaghani ’s 32-yard field goal with 56 seconds left that proved the difference in a sloppy debut for Foster and his team.

Foster acknowledged getting emotional in the locker room afterward when athletic director Martin Jarmond handed him the game ball in honor of his first victory.

“I kind of kept a lot of stuff bottled in coming into this, so I didn’t want to just be out there all emotional, but I was really excited that we got our first victory, just the way the guys played,” Foster said. “It didn’t really go exactly the way we wanted in the first half, but the second half, they kept fighting, kept playing and we were able to execute and get the job done."

Consider it viewer's discretion as to whether the usual first-game caveats should apply to a team working in a new coach, not to mention offensive and defensive coordinators. One must also take into account that the Bruins were facing a team that needed a second-half surge to put away a Football Championship Subdivision opponent last week in its opener.

The primary protagonist in UCLA’s comeback was wide receiver Rico Flores Jr . The transfer from Notre Dame hauled in a 39-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter and set his team up for a 22-yard field goal on its next possession after his nifty 53-yard catch and run.

UCLA’s defense was another major story in the second half, holding Hawaii (1-1) to a field goal and 100 yards of offense. On the Rainbow Warriors' final drive, Bruins linebacker Ale Kaho notched a critical sack and safety Bryan Addison recovered a fumble near midfield on the game’s final play.

The Bruins finished with two interceptions, five sacks and 11 tackles for loss in what amounted to a solid debut for defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe outside of one slapstick play in which the defense committed an illegal substitution, pass interference and roughing the passer.

UCLA’s special teams had its own moment of absurdity when two players who shared jersey numbers with teammates were trying to change jerseys before a Hawaii punt but could not do so quickly enough to get onto the field. Rainbow Warriors punter Lucas Borrow took the snap, saw plenty of open field in front of him and took off running. By the time UCLA recovered, Borrow had gained 19 yards and reached midfield. Hawaii scored five plays later on a busted coverage by the Bruins’ secondary.

Foster admitted his team wasn’t living up to his standard after harping on his pillars of discipline, respect and enthusiasm since he replaced Chip Kelly in February.

“On the first pillar, we’re probably going to have to work on that a lot, just the discipline,” he said, “but I think the second half was a little bit better.”

Another massive concern was UCLA’s run game, which had been a staple of its success in recent years. Take away Garbers’ 47 rushing yards on seven carries and UCLA running backs T.J. Harden , Keegan Jones and Anthony Frias II combined for 24 yards in 13 carries — an abysmal average of 1.8 yards per carry.

It didn’t help that the Bruins were down both starting tackles by game’s end. Right tackle Garrett DiGiorgio didn’t play because of an apparent shoulder injury and left tackle Reuben Unije departed with an unspecified injury early in the third quarter. (Foster indicated after the game that neither injury was considered serious.)

Garbers persevered after an awful first half that included two interceptions, one coming on a pass that he flung in desperation while nearly being dragged down in the end zone. The quarterback said he did not sense any panic in his coach’s halftime message even with the Bruins down 10-0.

“You know, this is not us,” Foster told the team, according to Garbers. “Let’s get back to what we’ve been doing in practice, what we’ve been doing in fall camp.”

Garbers eagerly complied, completing 13 of 19 passes for 203 yards and a touchdown in the second half. It was enough to salvage a performance in which the redshirt senior finished completing 19 of 38 passes for 272 yards to go with the one touchdown and two interceptions.

Foster endured a few other opening-game missteps, including not knowing how to address the media when he stepped in front of reporters after the game.

“Do I give an opening statement,” Foster asked one of the school’s media relations staffers, “or they can just start?”

Cradling the game ball his boss had given him in his arm, another lei dangling around his neck, Foster went on to say he was grateful for another day living in the paradise of an unbeaten coach.

“This is exactly what we needed going into what we’re about to go into,” Foster said, alluding to a travel-heavy schedule that includes games against five nationally ranked teams. “You know, we have a lot of road games coming up that are going to be in hostile environments — hot, it’s going to be uncomfortable, so I’m just glad these guys fought through and weathered the storm.”

Dry for the moment despite a leaky umbrella, ominous clouds could be gathering on the horizon.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .