Bruins answer ‘one-hit wonder' challenge with rout that shows team on rise

EAST LANSING, Mich. The sheet of paper greeted every UCLA player as he stepped into his row and took his seat on the team plane.

- BEN BOLCH

JALEN BERGER (0) scores one of his three touchdowns as UCLA ran off 38 unanswered points in a decisive win that proves its upset of Penn State was no fluke.

On it, in large block letters, was printed six words and a challenge from their interim coach: "ARE YOU A ONE-HIT WONDER?" A week after upsetting Penn State, the Bruins answered emphatically.

Hell, no! These guys had another triumph in them. A big one.

In an encore that was every bit the success of its smash debut under a makeshift coaching staff, UCLA continued its stunning transformation from winless team to ... Big Ten powerhouse? College Football Playoff contender? Sports comeback story of the year? There seems no limit to what this team might be able to accomplish given the continued rise on display Saturday during a 38-13 victory over Michigan State at Spartan Stadium.

UCLA's offense, led by playcaller Jerry Neuheisel, rolled off 38 consecutive points after the Bruins (2-4 overall, 2-1 Big Ten) spotted the Spartans (3-3, 0-3) an early touchdown.

The Bruins' defense, run by de facto defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, forced a fumble, stopped the Spartans on all four fourth-down attempts and held them to 253 yards of offense.

Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles was knocked out of the game early in the third quarter after spinning into a vicious hit from defensive tackle Keanu Williams.

Orchestrating it all was interim coach Tim Skipper, who has his team playing with a focus and vitality that were clearly missing under DeShaun Foster. The sheet of paper left on players' seats was just one of the motivational messages he's used to revive a once lifeless team.