It wasn't the prettiest at times, especially on the offensive side of the ball, but UConn was able to do enough to defeat the UMass Minutemen 27-10 in front of 23,340 fans at Pratt and Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. UConn managed only 60 yards passing, while UMass had 266, far exceeding their season high of 108. With the victory, the Huskies improve to 5-5, while UMass fell to 1-8. The two teams extended the series by five games this week, through 2027. Next year's game will be at a yet to be announced neutral site.
The Minuteman came out swinging on offense, moving downfield to the UConn 30 before a Brady Olson lateral pass was dropped and returned to the UMass 20 by Jackson Mitchell. Three straight run plays by Victor Rosa netted 6 yards, and the Huskies brought out Noe Ruelas to kick a FG, which was missed. UMass then broke out the flea flicker, a 45 yard pass to Cam Sullivan-Brown to get the Minutemen deep into UConn territory. A goal line stop forced a 22 yard FG, which was completed, giving UMass a 3-0 lead. First play on the second drive for the Huskies, Devontae Houston returned from injury to take a 75 yard run to the house. UMass would move into UConn territory, eventually settling for a 52 yard FG, which missed short, and was returned by Victor Rosa to the UConn 43, ending the first quarter with the Huskies leading 7-3.
Starting off with good field position, UConn moved deep into UMass territory on a sustained drive of 14 plays and 52 yards, ending with a 23 yard Ruelas FG, giving he the Huskies a 10-3 lead. UMass would respond, with a 53 yard TD pass to Cam Sullivan-Brown, tying things up at 10. UConn would stall on the next drive, punting fire the first time. Fortuitously for UConn, a botched snap for UMass pushed the Minuteman back to their own 2 just in front of the packed student section. UMass would be able to get back to their own 16, before punting to Cam Ross, playing for the first time since 2019.
The ensuing punt would be short, taking a UConn bounce back to the UMass 38. A beautiful pass from Zion Turner to Justin Joly of 25 yards got UConn into the red zone. The UMass defense would hold, and Ruelas would kick a 26 yard FG, giving UConn a 13-10 lead with :59. A solid kick return to the UMass 43, gave good field position. An Ellis Merriweather run on 3rd and long kept the drive alive, and all of sudden, UMass was in field goal position, but an illegal motion pushed them out of range, and the Huskies go into the half with a 13-10 lead, having been outplayed by the Minutemen.
Each team would open the second half by trading three and outs. UConn had some good field position starting drive number two, but back to back penalties forced the Huskies into and 2nd and 3rd and long, forcing UConn to punt from midfield. Good coverage by the UConn special teams gave UMass field position at their own 10. UMass did not move the ball, and punted from their own end zone, giving UConn the ball at UMass 42. A face ask penalty pushed the Huskies into the red zone, and Victor Rosa, receiving a big push from his teammates, punched it in from 5, giving UConn a 20-10 lead. UMass marched downfield in response, buoyed by a 24 pass from Olson to Isaac Ross, and a pass interference penalty on UConn. UMass attempted a 27 yard FG, and missed.
UConn couldn’t muster any offense on the ensuing drive, and after stopping UMass again, UConn marched downfield on a 9 play, 74 yard, culminating in a Victor Rosa touchdown run of twelve, upping the lead to 27-10. UMass then turned it over on downs, essentially putting the game away. The five wins by the Huskies are the most since 2015, and are one win away from bowl eligibility, needing to defeat #23 Liberty at The Rent next Saturday, or Army at West Point the 19th.
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