UNLV’s LA natives bring no love for UCLA to Saturday’s game

Even if UNLV quarterback Johnny Stanton and defensive end Iggy Porchia weren’t on the field Saturday trying to help the Rebels upset UCLA at the Rose Bowl, the California natives would be in their comfort zone rooting against the Bruins.

That’s because Stanton and Porchia grew up as fans of Southern California, UCLA’s archrival.

“I was a big SC fan growing up, so I was always rooting against the Bruins,” said Porchia, who was born in Los Angeles and raised in Venice, less than 30 miles from the Rose Bowl.

Said Stanton, who was raised in Burbank, less than 12 miles from the Rose Bowl: “I have three cousins and my (grandfather) all went to USC, so they’ll be rooting extra hard to beat UCLA.”

As a highly rated recruit at Santa Margarita High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Stanton received interest from UCLA before signing with Nebraska. Porchia, a senior who will make his second career start for UNLV on Saturday before a multitude of family members, wasn’t recruited by the Bruins.

“I’m one of the guys they overlooked, so I’ve got a chance to go out and prove something,” he said.

Both players are looking forward to playing at the historic Rose Bowl.

“It’s going to be a special place to play. A lot of greats have played there,” Porchia said. “We’re just trying to go out there and be part of it and do something special ourselves.”

Stanton recalls going to the Rose Bowl as a boy and watching his beloved Trojans beat Michigan on New Year’s Day. He also went to a UCLA-California game there as a Bruins recruit during his junior year of high school.

“It’s always very cool being able to go there. I remember walking through the tunnel and seeing the huge expanse of the stadium right in front of you,” he said. “It’s never been the dream of mine to play in the Rose Bowl, but it’s a cool thing to be able to play there.”

Stanton completed 10 of 12 passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns in his first Division I start in UNLV’s 63-13 season-opening rout of Jackson State last Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Porchia and the Rebels’ defense limited Tigers quarterbacks to 17 completions in 43 attempts for 144 yards passing and also came up with two interceptions and two touchdowns.

But they’ll take a major step up in class this week against the Bruins and sophomore Josh Rosen, widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks in the country.

Rosen threw for 343 yards and a touchdown in UCLA’s 31-24 season-opening overtime loss at Texas A&M. He also threw three interceptions under heavy pressure, which Porchia hopes to help generate for UNLV.

“We’re going to have to (get pressure) if we want to come away with this win. It’s on us,” Porchia said. “The biggest thing is getting pressure, executing our assignments and tackling and being the most physical defense out there.”

The 26-point underdog Rebels are focused on authoring an upset in the storied venue after losing to the Bruins 37-3 in the first meeting between the teams last season at Sam Boyd Stadium.

“We’re not looking at this like we’re underdogs. We’re looking at this as a very winnable game,” Stanton said. “We respect the hell out of UCLA, but we’re not scared of them.”

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354. Follow on Twitter: @tdewey33