The UCLA Bruins first half of the season was not ideal. The Bruins have yet to score in 2024. On the first drive of the game Ethan Garbers went 0-2 passing while running for 11 yards. TJ Harden also rushed for 5 yards on the first drive.
After a 17-yard punt by Chase Barry, the Rainbow Warriors executed a fake punt to perfection. They then went down the field and scored a touchdown from Pofele Ashlock at 7:43. They went 9 plays and 73 yards on their first drive of the game.
When the Bruins got the ball back, a Harden run and a couple of penalties set the Bruins up well. Carter Shaw caught a big pass and got the Bruins inside the 15-yard line. The catch came from a dart from Garbers. The Bruins were terrible in the red zone a season ago, and 2024 started poorly with a Garbers interception in the end zone.
The Bruins were able to get a stop and force a punt on the next possession. That set up the third offensive possession for the Bruins. A personal foul ruined the Bruins’ third drive, and they went to the second quarter down 7-0. The Bruins had 57 first-quarter yards, an interception, and a punt.
The second quarter saw the Bruins get a stop on fourth down and they picked up the ball at the 39-yard line. Garbers was better on this drive, but a missed field goal kept them scoreless with 7:46 left in the first half. After stopping the Rainbow Warriors again, they once again forced a punt.
Some ineffective offense for the Bruins was aided once by a personal foul passer on an incomplete third-down pass. Garbers was once again pressured, and could not convert. It was another punt for the Bruins.
Another UCLA punt gave the Rainbow Warriors the ball back. They were driving down the field until the Bruins picked up an interception with 0:30 left in the half. The pick came off a deflection and was caught by Ramon Henderson, the transfer from Notre Dame.
Disaster struck following that, as Ethan Garbers was about to get sacked in the end zone. He turned and threw it into a crowd, and Hawaii picked it off and returned inside the 5-yard line. The Bruins defense was strong, and held Hawaii to a field goal to end the half. UCLA went to the locker room down 10.0.
Hawaii gets the ball to start the second half.