UCLA handles Cal, but QB Nico Iamaleava deals with leg issue

Wayne Knight rushed for three touchdowns in his UCLA debut, but the Bruins got a scare when quarterback Nico Iamaleava suffered a right leg issue late in the 45-24 win over host California on Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.

Iamaleava scrambled with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter and gained 10 yards before he was dragged to the turf by his leg. He recovered his own fumble on the play. The quarterback came up limping and spent the remainder of the drive on the sidelines. His younger brother, Madden Iamaleava, came in but did not attempt a pass.

He returned to the field after the injury on the ensuing drive, which was one play -- Anthony Woods' 53-yard TD run with 1:17 left. UCLA coach Bob Chesney said after the game that Nico Iamaleava would be fine after his calf got cleated and the QB's leg cramped up. Iamaleava said at the postgame press conference that the tackle was painful, but he was able to recover after going to the sideline.

In the teams' season opener, UCLA separated from its former longtime Pac-12 Conference counterpart with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown runs from Knight, both set up by interceptions.

Ta'Shawn James picked off Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele after UCLA's pass rushers flushed the Cal quarterback out of the pocket. Sagapolutele's pass attempt on the move deflected off receiver Ian Strong, and James was there to make the play at midfield.

On the ensuing snap, Knight, a transfer from James Madison, broke off for a 31-yard rush. It was Knight's second score of the night -- the first coming on an 8-yard run in the second quarter -- and the Bruins' second touchdown of 31 yards after Woods broke off one of the same distance in the second.

Woods ran for another long score late in the fourth quarter, closing out his eight-carry, 118-yard night with a 53-yard touchdown.

Earlier in the period, James again set up UCLA's offense with another interception of Sagapoluetele. That led to an eight-play, 46-yard drive that consumed 4:03. Knight's third touchdown run, this one of four yards, effectively slammed the door on Cal.

Nico Iamaleava completed 14 of 22 passes for 184 yards and was intercepted by Kingston Lopa.

Sagapoluetele went 24 of 41 for 271 yards in the quarterback showdown and threw a pair of touchdowns. He capped Cal's opening drive of 10 plays and 75 yards with a 9-yard scoring strike to Chase Hendricks. The quarterback connected with Mason Mini for an 8-yard touchdown just before halftime after completing a 49-yard pass to Strong.

--Field Level Media