It was quite the slow start for Ethan Garbers and the UCLA Bruins offense on Saturday. The Bruins did not score in the first half of the game. UCLA eventually scored a touchdown, followed by three field goals to beat Hawaii 16-13 in the game.
It was not until 8:41 left in the third when the Bruins scored their first touchdown of the season. It was a 39-yard strike from Garbers to Rico Flores Jr.
Garbers talked postgame about the start of the game and his overall performance. Here is what he had to say about the slow start to the game, per James H. Williams.
“I think everyone was trying to do too much instead of sticking to their job, including me. Trying to make plays and push stuff that wasn’t really there. I got to be smarter. I got to be more calm and more collected back there. In the second half, we went back to what we’ve been doing all fall camp. Everyone just doing their job and taking it one day at a time.”
UCLA QB Ethan Garbers on slow start for the offense: “I think everyone was trying to do too much instead of sticking to their job, including me. Trying to make plays and push stuff that wasn’t really there. I got to be smarter. I got to be more calm and more collected back there.…
— James H. Williams covers UCLA football (@JHWreporter) September 1, 2024
The quarterback finished the game with 19 of 38 passes for 272 yards and a single touchdown pass. He also had an interception in the game. The signal-caller led the Bruins in rushing yards as well. Garbers finished with 47 yards, on 7 carries. TJ Harden had just 9 yards in the game on 9 carries. Flores Jr. led the team with 102 yards and the lone touchdown.
Garbers and the offense will look to start quicker when they battle Indiana on September 14th.