LOS ANGELES_It was Josh Rosen to the rescue once more Saturday at the Rose Bowl, this time from UCLA's opening drive.
Rosen guided the Bruins to touchdowns on their first four offensive possessions on the way to a 56-23 victory over Hawaii that also involved several notable concerns for UCLA.
Rosen completed 22 of 25 passes for 329 yards and a career-high five touchdowns, with one of the incompletions coming on a dropped pass by Nate Starks. Rosen played one drive in the fourth quarter before giving way to Devon Modster.
But UCLA's run defense was shredded for a second consecutive game and the Bruins (2-0) yielded 281 yards rushing. UCLA was also without five defensive starters after defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa watched the game in street clothes; linebacker Kenny Young and safeties Adarius Pickett and Jaleel Wadood were injured; and linebacker Josh Woods was ejected for targeting.
Woods' ejection means he will also have to sit out the first half of UCLA's game against Memphis next weekend.
Not counting a drive at the end of the Texas A&M game in which Rosen had taken a knee, the Bruins had scored touchdowns on nine consecutive drives before Rosen was sacked on the final play of the first half.
Rosen found a slew of targets including Theo Howard (seven catches for 110 yards and a touchdown) and Darren Andrews (four catches for 92 yards and three touchdowns).
Quarterback Dru Brown completed 23 of 38 passes for 227 yards with two touchdowns and an interception for Hawaii (2-1).
