There was much excitement in the weeks leading up to UConn’s first bowl game since 2015, but that excitement was extinguished quickly as Marshall jumped out to an early lead on their way to a 28-14 victory in front of 12,023 fans at Brooks Stadium. A valiant second half by the Huskies was not enough to negate the first half mistakes.
The first quarter would be an inauspicious start for the UConn offense. Receiving the ball on their own 34 after the defense stopped the Thundering Herd on 4th and short, Zion Turner took the keeper and spiked the ball, thinking it’d be an incomplete pass, but it was ruled a fumble, and Marshall took it down to the UConn 16. They’d hit the end zone two plays later on a nine yard Cam Fancher pass to Corey Gammage. Each team would proceed to trade three and outs on the ensuing drives. Marshall would find the end zone again after a Zion Turner pass under pressure was picked off by DL Damion Barber Jr and returned to the house.
Cale Millen would take over for Turner but didn’t fare much better, as he would go three and out. A Caratan punt gave Marshall the ball at their own 41, and would find their way into UConn territory one play later on a Rasheed Ali run. After forcing a punt, the first quarter would come to an end with Marshall leading 14-0. UConn would only muster 25 yards in the quarter, one through the air.
Each team would trade possessions, and Zion Turner would re-enter the game. A double reverse to Devontae Houston would go for 28 yards, and Zion Turner would add a 12 yard run to get down to the 23. A 45 yard FG attempt by Noe Ruelas would sail left and UConn would remain scoreless. A Rasheed Ali rush of 38 yards got Marshall to the UConn 10 and they’d punch it in one play later to go up 21-0.
On the ensuing kickoff, a personal foul on D’Mon Brinson pushed UConn back to their own 15. On 3rd and long, Turner would throw long incomplete to Kevens Clercius but a holding call extended the drive. UConn would get down to the Marshall 13 and opted to go for it on 4th and 6, but Turner’s throw sailed out of the corner of the end zone, giving possession back to Marshall, who would run the clock down to give the Thundering Herd a 21-0 lead.
UConn would receive the ball to start the second half, and promptly go three and out. On the ensuing possession, 6th year senior Ian Swenson’s UConn career would end on a targeting call. The drive would end with a Rasheen Ali two yard rush for a 28-0 Marshall lead with 9:51 left in the 3rd. On UConn’s drive, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty coupled with a 32 yard screen to Keelan Marion set up a 14 yard Victor Rosa touchdown run to get UConn on the board for the first time. After forcing a punt that would be go out of bounds at the Marshall 40, UConn would start with great field position.
UConn would capitalize on that field position, with another Victor Rosa TD run, this one a 24 yard rush that got the UConn faithful back in the game. A 34 yard pass to Corey Gammage got Marshall into UConn territory but a Malik Dixon-Williams interception gave UConn the ball back. A nifty Cam Ross screen where he zig zagged all over the backfield, eventually breaking away for 9, and a 15 yard Victor Rosa run put UConn near midfield. Add on a face mask penalty, and UConn quickly was at the Marshall 42. UConn gave those yards right back after a long pass to Marion fell incomplete and Mora wanted a pass interference but said the magic words and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty instead. On 3rd and 28 the Turner to Turner connection struck for 20 yards, but Marion lined up offsides on the ensuing 4th and 8, setting up 4th and 13, where a deep pass to Clercius was well defended.
Marshall would take over at their own 45, with good field position of their own. UConn would come up with a stop and reached midfield yet again. A pass interference then Aaron Turner catch down inside the 10. A holding call backed up the Huskies then on 3rd 20, Zion Turner’s throw on the run was intercepted in the end zone. With 5:09 left, that was looking like it for the Huskies.
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