PASADENA – UCLA freshman Dante Moore entered Saturday’s season opener against Coastal Carolina as the primary backup, but he quickly made a strong case in his collegiate debut to be QB1 going forward.

The former five-star recruit, who took over for starter Ethan Garbers late in the second quarter for one series and didn’t get another drive until early in the fourth, needed just eight seconds and one throw to emphatically announce he had arrived – and he might not be going back to the bench anytime soon.

Moore’s 62-yard touchdown pass to California transfer receiver J.Michael Sturdivant with 13:59 to play sparked the Bruins to a 27-13 win over the Chanticleers in front of an announced attendance of 43,705 at the Rose Bowl.

Moore threw TDs on two of his first five throws en route to a 7-of-12 passing performance for 143 yards and an interception. Sturdivant had team highs of five catches on 10 targets for 136 yards.

Garbers was just 10 of 17 for 121 yards, a TD and two interceptions.

On the ground, Ball State transfer Carson Steele and sophomore T.J. Harden nearly split the carries and each had 76 yards rushing apiece. Steele also added four catches for 20 yards, including a 14-yard TD to cap Moore’s first series late in the first half.

UCLA (1-0) withstood a 27-of-42 performance from Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall, who finished with 271 yards passing, a TD and two interceptions.

First quarter

12:56, UCLA: QB Ethan Garbers to TE Carsen Ryan, 21-yard TD (PAT GOOD, R.J. Lopez), 7-0 UCLA

Second quarter

11:12, Coastal Carolina: PK Liam Gray 22-yard field goal, 7-3 UCLA

3:57, UCLA: QB Dante Moore to RB Carson Steele, 14-yard TD (PAT GOOD, R.J. Lopez), 14-3 UCLA

0:00, Coastal Carolina: PK Liam Gray 41-yard field goal, 14-6

Third quarter

10:08, Coastal Carolina: QB Grayson McCall to WR Sam Pinckney, 9-yard TD (PAT GOOD, Liam Gray), 14-13 UCLA

Fourth quarter

13:59, UCLA: QB Dante Moore to WR J.Michael Sturdivant, 62-yard TD (PAT GOOD, R.J. Lopez), 21-13 UCLA

5:39, UCLA: PK R.J. Lopez 31-yard field goal, 24-13 UCLA

3:26, UCLA: PK R.J. Lopez 47-yard field goal, 27-13 UCLA

After a lackluster start to the second half and clinging to a 14-13 lead, Bruins head coach Chip Kelly decided to bring Moore back in to relieve Garbers. To that point, the redshirt junior oversaw just seven plays over two drives in the third that resulted in an interception and punt.

There was no issue starting back up again for Moore, who sat for 18 minutes, 28 seconds of game action – and much more factoring in halftime.

All he needed was one play to display his special talent and hook up with Sturdivant:

Before we get into the standouts on both sides of the ball, it’s only fitting to highlight how each of the quarterbacks performed since the rotation was the big storyline coming into the contest.

Kent State transfer Collin Schlee did not play, however, after Kelly cited the flow of the game and the new clock rules that keep the clock running after first downs outside of the last two minutes.

Garbers opened the contest connecting on two of his first four throws capped by a 21-yard TD to tight end Carsen Ryan.

He handled the Bruins’ first three drives and completed 8 of 12 passes for 103 yards while connecting with six different receivers. Five of the receivers had a reception of at least 10 yards.

Then, he ran into trouble.

Among Garbers’ gaffes was a first-quarter interception over the middle in the end zone picked off by Chanticleers safety Clayton Isbell on a third-and-6 from the Coastal Carolina 8-yard line that ended the Bruins’ second series.

After the third UCLA drive sputtered, Moore made his debut at the 6:33 mark of the second quarter.

After his first completion went to Steele for no gain, Moore connected with Sturdivant for a 39-yard strike while on the run to quickly get in the red zone. His first career TD pass then went to Steele on a 14-yard completion to the left to push the advantage to 14-3 in his lone series of the half.

Kelly went back to Garbers for the first series of the second half, but he was promptly intercepted for a second time by Isbell at the Coastal Carolina 8. After following with another lifeless series, Kelly saw enough and went back to Moore with 14:07 left in the fourth and he did not disappoint.

It wasn’t a flawless night, however, as Moore returned for another drive but was intercepted – again by Isbell – at the goal line with 8:16 left.

After his first three carries went for 10, 7 and 24 yards, it was clear immediately that Steele arrived as advertised.

The 6-foot-1, 225-pounder flashed the type of hard running that helped him lead the FBS in yards after contact last season.

Sturdivant, meanwhile, had a connection with Moore from the jump and his ability to separate from defenders was on full display.

It did not look like Latu would be anywhere near this after producing just a single hit on McCall and no other stats through three quarters.

He came alive in the fourth, though, collecting all three of his sacks for a total loss of 17 yards, four total tackles and a forced fumble.

Still, it was an otherwise iffy night for a defense that was flagged for six penalties for 45 yards and a pass defense that gave up seven plays of 15 or more yards.

Moore stole the show with his 62-yard TD pass to Sturdivant. It was so nice it’s worth looking at twice.

The Bruins won’t win any style points, but the moments Kelly turned to Moore breathed new life into the offense and made it a little less of an adventure than if he would’ve stuck with Garbers.

Now the questions become: How much more of a leash does Garbers get, if he starts again? Or, did Moore show enough to play himself into the starting job on the road against San Diego State?

The defense also showed some of that bend-but-don’t-break mettle that it showed early last season. The first two Coastal Carolina drives stalled in the red zone and another at the UCLA 24 in the first half, giving up just a pair of field goals in the process.

Eventually, the Bruins’ defense came up with three takeaways on the night — all in the second half.

Also helping matters, place-kicker R.J. Lopez was 2 for 2 on field goals.

Passing

Ethan Garbers: 10 of 17 for 121 yards, TD, 2 INTs

Dante Moore: 7 of 12 for 143 yards, 2 TDs, INT

Rushing

Carson Steele: 13 carries for 76 yards

T.J. Harden: 11 carries for 76 yards

Receiving

J.Michael Sturdivant: 5 catches for 136 yards, TD

Carson Steele: 4 catches for 20 yards, TD

Logan Loya: 3 catches for 37 yards

Kyle Ford: 2 catches for 39 yards

Carsen Ryan: 1 catch for 21 yards, TD