UCLA football staves off Nebraska for 2nd Big Ten win

LINCOLN, Neb — Ethan Garbers threw for two touchdowns, linebacker Kain Medrano returned an interception for a touchdown to start the second half, and UCLA held off Nebraska late to beat the Cornhuskers 27-20 on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The Bruins (3-5, 2-4 Big Ten) have won consecutive games for the first time under first-year coach DeShaun Foster following a 1-5 start. The Cornhuskers (5-4, 2-4) have dropped three straight and lost freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola to a crushing hit on their second-to-last possession.

The Bruins, who led by 20 points in the third quarter, had anxious moments before their win was secure.

Backup quarterback Heinrich Haarberg converted a fourth-and-11 while moving the Huskers into UCLA territory on their final possession. Kaylin Moore intercepted Heinrich’s pass that deflected off Jacory Barney Jr. at the 13-yard line with 29 seconds left, and the Bruins ran out the clock.

Garbers completed 17 of 25 passes for 219 yards and had a 57-yard run that set up a field goal.

The Bruins added to their 13-7 halftime lead with a couple quick scores. Medrano intercepted Raiola’s pass on the first play from scrimmage in the second half and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown.

Medrano stepped in front of the over-the-middle pass intended for Jahmal Banks and hurdled Raiola along the sideline to reach the end zone, and Garbers’ 48-yard pass to Kwazi Gilmer put the Bruins up 27-7 midway through the third quarter.

The Huskers cut the lead to 13 points and drove to the UCLA 5 on their next possession before turning the ball over on downs. They weren’t done, though. UCLA went three-and-out, and Raiola moved the Huskers to the UCLA 2, where he took a big hit and was knocked out of the game. He tried to re-enter a couple plays later but fell a few steps from the sideline and limped off holding his lower back.

With Haarberg in, Dante Dowdell crashed through for a 1-yard TD. John Hohl missed the extra point, leaving the Huskers down 27-20 with 3:57 left.

Raiola was 14 of 27 for 177 yards and a touchdown.

UCLA, which hosts Iowa on Friday at the Rose Bowl, is improving after its rough start despite spells of undisciplined play. The Bruins, who beat Rutgers 35-32 in their last game, have posted their two highest point totals in back-to-back games.