UCLA QB Dieffenbach trades turnovers for 303-yard performance in win over Minnesota
The eighth-ranked Bruins defeated the Gophers 34-20, relying on deep strikes to Aidan Mizell after two costly mistakes.
By Aiko Soto ·
UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach spent the first half of Saturday's game making errors, then spent the second half making plays. The shift in performance allowed the eighth-ranked Bruins to defeat Minnesota 34-20 and remain inside the 12-team College Football Playoff picture.
Dieffenbach attempted 16 passes in the 34-20 victory. He completed enough to accumulate 303 passing yards and three touchdowns. Two of those scoring plays involved wide receiver Aidan Mizell. The other came from a rushing play. Dieffenbach also committed two turnovers that threatened to derail the lead.
The first mistake occurred when Dieffenbach forced a pass toward tight end Noah Fox-Flores. Minnesota linebacker Maverick Baranowski stepped into the passing lane and intercepted the ball. The second error happened on a strip sack after Troy Leigber blocked a punt. Dieffenbach held the football loosely and lost it in the red zone.
"That can't happen, not in the red zone after a blocked punt. It's just unacceptable," Dieffenbach said. "But next-play mentality."
Head coach Bob Chesney noted that the team had been playing steady, mistake-free football for the previous three weeks. Those wins relied heavily on the defense and the running game after Nico Iamaleava suffered a season-ending injury. Dieffenbach previously acted as a game manager. Saturday required him to be a playmaker.
Dieffenbach started the game with explosive plays. He threw a 54-yard pass to Semaj Morgan for a first down. He then rushed for 29 yards on the next drive. That run set up Wayne Knight's field goal. Knight is leading the Big Ten with 13 touchdowns on the season.
The offense stalled in the middle of the game. Dieffenbach put the team in precarious situations with his two turnovers. The Bruins' defense allowed a tying touchdown. The offense needed to respond immediately to keep Minnesota at bay.
Three minutes into the fourth quarter, Dieffenbach found Mizell for a 75-yard touchdown. Dieffenbach held the safeties' attention while Mizell broke free of coverage. Dieffenbach threw the ball over the top. Mizell caught it and ran to the end zone.
"We knew what coverage they were going to be in: They were going to be in two-high with the quarters, and they were going to bite on the crossers," Dieffenbach said. "Once I seen the safety come down, it was wraps from there. All green grass. Aidan killed his guy and just put it out there."
After Minnesota scored again, Dieffenbach and Mizell connected on another 75-yard touchdown. This time, Minnesota used man coverage. Mizell used his speed to beat his defender on a deep crossing route. The back-to-back deep strikes sealed the win.
"He didn't waver," Chesney said. "I think that's really important, the way he carried himself in that moment, and the things he understood he needed to do better."
UCLA is 9-0 overall and 6-0 in the Big Ten. The team is 9-0 for the first time since 1998. In the latest Associated Press Top 25 poll released on November 8, UCLA moved to No. 4. That is the program's highest ranking since 2001. Georgia is No. 1. Utah is No. 2. Notre Dame is No. 3. Indiana is No. 6. UCLA hosts Illinois next, then travels to Michigan, and finishes the regular season against No. 20 USC at the Rose Bowl.
