UCLA quarterback Ty Dieffenbach returned from a wrist injury to lead the fourth-ranked Bruins to a 22-14 victory over Illinois on Wednesday.
The senior signal-caller suffered the injury just before halftime, forcing him to the sidelines while sophomore Madden Iamaleava took over, according to “Yahoo Sports.”
Dieffenbach, a Cal Poly transfer who began the season as a third-stringer, was thrust into the starting role after Nico Iamaleava suffered a season-ending injury during a win over Oregon, “The Sporting Tribune reported.”
The crowd at the Rose Bowl erupted when Dieffenbach appeared on the stadium big screen, signaling his return to the sideline.
“When Ty walked in, I didn’t know what it was. Then I saw up on the screen him coming down the sideline. That was pretty impressive,” said Bruins coach Bob Chesney, “according to Yahoo Sports.”
Dieffenbach officially returned to the field late in the third quarter.
He quickly made an impact by throwing a 26-yard touchdown pass to senior receiver Semaj Morgan in the fourth quarter to extend the UCLA lead.
“Once I got on the field, all of that pain went away with that adrenaline. That’s just how it is,” Dieffenbach said, “as reported by Yahoo Sports.”
The quarterback had previously connected with Aidan Mizell for a 54-yard score earlier in the game.
Chesney noted that the quarterback’s return boosted the morale of the entire team during a tightly contested matchup.
“That’s leadership. That stands out,” Chesney noted, “according to The Sporting Tribune.”
The victory keeps UCLA in the spotlight as one of the best stories in college football this season.
Dieffenbach remained in the game until the final whistle, helping the Bruins secure the win.
The Agoura Hills native described the atmosphere as one of the best moments of his life, “per Yahoo Sports.”