Zach Charbonnet leads No. 12 UCLA to bounce-back win over Stanford
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins runs for first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Defensive lineman Gary Smith III (58) of the UCLA Bruins reacts after sacking quarterback Tanner McKee (not pictured) of the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins runs for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins runs for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins runs for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins dives for the touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson #1 of UCLA Bruins runs for the touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins runs against the Stanford defense in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins reacts with teammate wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) after running for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
linebacker Darius Muasau (53) of the UCLA Bruins tackle quarterback Tanner McKee (18) of the Stanford Cardinal for loss of yards in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins reacts with teammate wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) after running for a touchdown against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Linebacker Darius Muasau (53) of the UCLA Bruins intercepts pass against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wide receiver Jake Bobo (9) of the UCLA Bruins catches a pass for first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Caleb Robinson (21) of the Stanford Cardinal runs for yardage against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins looks on against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wide receiver Matt Sykes (12) of the UCLA Bruins catches a pass for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins passes against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Running back Zach Charbonnet (24) of the UCLA Bruins runs for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Wide receiver Matt Sykes (12) of the UCLA Bruins catches a pass for a first down against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins rects after teammate running back Zach Charbonnet runs for touchdown against the UCLA Bruins in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Chip Kelly of the UCLA Bruins looks on against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins prepares to enter the field prior to a NCAA Football game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (1) of the UCLA Bruins enters the field prior to a NCAA Football game against the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
UCLA Bruins band performs prior to a NCAA Football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
UCLA Bruins band performs prior to a NCAA Football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Offensive lineman Atonio Mafi (56) of the UCLA Bruins looks on against the Stanford Cardinal in the first half of a NCAA Football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Team Fastrax professional sky diving team lands on the field prior to a NCAA Football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A young UCLA Bruins fan prior to a NCAA Football game between the UCLA Bruins and the Stanford Cardinal at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on Saturday, October 29, 2022. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
PASADENA — After losing at Oregon last week, UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson said the Bruins had the maturity and fuel to respond after their first defeat in nearly a year.
The 12th-ranked Bruins showed maturity in a 38-13 bounce-back win over Stanford at the Rose Bowl on Saturday. As for the fuel, Zach Charbonnet provided plenty of it.
Charbonnet, one the nation’s top rushers, ran all over the Cardinal defense as No. 12 UCLA (7-1, 4-1 Pac-12) began a stretch of three games against opponents with records below .500 on a strong note.
“This whole team has had that mindset and that comes from the top down,” Thompson-Robinson said. “We’ve got to look forward every time. We can’t look in the past and we’ve got to get stuff corrected.”
Charbonnet had 198 rushing yards — tying a season-high — and three touchdowns, the latter of which served as the punctuation mark. It was a 37-yard run up the middle that featured a stutter-step to get past one defender, followed by two broken tackles that gave UCLA a 31-6 lead going into the fourth quarter.
“He can do it all,” Kelly said. “He can pick up a pass protection, he’s a weapon coming out of the backfield, and obviously we saw what he’s like when he runs the football. So I thought Zach played outstanding today.”
The Bruins kept pace with the leaders in the Pac-12 after No. 8 Oregon, No. 10 USC and No. 14 Utah all won this week. At 4-1 in conference play, UCLA remains in contention for the Pac-12 Championship Game, with the Nov. 19 game against USC looming large.
“This is what we wanted,” Thompson-Robinson said. “This is what we expected, and now that it’s here, it’s time for the real work to start.”
Thompson-Robinson was 18-for-29 passing for 199 yards, moving past Josh Rosen for third all-time in passing yards in school history. He went into the medical tent a couple of times after taking some big hits during the game, but said afterwards that he felt fine.
Attendance at the Rose Bowl on Saturday was 43,850 fans — a season-high.
Stanford (3-5, 1-5 Pac-12) entered the game allowing 187.6 rushing yards per game — 10th in the Pac-12 — and UCLA took full advantage. Right away, the Bruins handed off to Charbonnet on their first three plays from scrimmage. He ran for first downs on each of them, setting up a 75-yard, 12-play drive finished off with a 3-yard touchdown run by Thompson-Robinson.
That gave the Bruins a 7-3 lead, and they never looked back.
UCLA built a 24-6 halftime advantage, with Charbonnet recording two touchdowns and 115 yards on the ground.
The first came on a 23-yard run, in which he was untouched going right up the middle. The score came on UCLA’s first play after Darius Muasau intercepted Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee.
The second came at the end of another lengthy drive, with two red zone runs to put the Bruins up by three scores.
Thompson-Robinson described Charbonnet as a consistent, reliable option to turn to.
“Zach’s someone I always try to feed off of,” Thompson-Robinson said. “He makes a big play here, I make a big play there and vice versa, so Zach is definitely a great dude to depend on. When things aren’t going my way, I can always look toward him and lean on him.”
Charbonnet recorded his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, and has rushed for at least one touchdown in each of his last nine Pac-12 games.
Coaches and teammates have marveled at the fourth-year running back’s work ethic all season. It has provided infectious energy to the rest of the team, according to Kelly.
“He’d play for 60 minutes, he’d play special teams if you asked him to, he’d play defense if you asked him to,” Kelly said. “He’s just one of those throwback players that’s a lot of fun to be around.”
UCLA’s defense, which struggled against Oregon, held Stanford to one touchdown — which came in the fourth quarter. Stanford came into the game without a passing touchdown in the last two games. UCLA sacked McKee four times and recorded six tackles for loss.
On his first quarter interception, Muasau said that he knew the play that Stanford was running ahead of time. On the bus ride to the Rose Bowl, he watched the Cardinal run a similar play last week. Mausau saw McKee try to get him to commit to the run before trying to throw a pass over him.
“But I was waiting for it,” Muasau said.
Defensive coordinator Bill McGovern was not at the game due to illness, with defensive analyst Clancy Pendergast taking McGovern’s place in the booth. A UCLA spokesperson said defensive play-calling was a “collaborative effort.”
McGovern felt fine enough to FaceTime the team after the team and even took part in the locker room celebration virtually by pouring water on himself, according to Kelly.
“It was a collaboration through our whole defensive group,” Kelly said. “Billy was here all week long to help institute the game plan — and I thought our players really executed.”
