Derrick Coleman bowled over three tacklers en route to a 24-yard touchdown with 3:35 to play as host UCLA - a three-touchdown favorite - fought off pesky San Jose State 27-17 at the Rose Bowl on Saturday.

San Jose State, which lost its season opener at Stanford 57-3 last week, was tied with the Bruins (1-1) midway through the fourth quarter before Kip Smith connected on a 20-yard field goal with seven minutes left to give UCLA a 20-17 lead.

Coleman (13 carries, 132 yards) capped the Bruins' next possession with three punishing runs to put the game away.

UCLA led 14-7 at the half as Johnathan Franklin scored on a 1-yard run and Richard Brehaut hooked up with Joseph Fauria on a 14-yard score. San Jose State got a 1-yard touchdown run by David Freeman in the first half.

After the two teams traded field goals in the third quarter, the Spartans tied the game with a 65-yard touchdown run by Brandon Rutley.

Both teams used backup quarterbacks because their starters missed the contest with concussions. Brehaut played for Kevin Prince and Dasmen Stewart started for promising newcomer Matt Faulkner.

Stewart twice left the game with injuries. Brehaut passed for 140 yards and rushed for another 40.