Nov. 1, 2014
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By Andy Seeley
UCFKnights.com
HARTFORD, Conn. (UCFKnights.com) - On a dreary, rainy day at Rentschler Field, Connecticut scored 20 unanswered points in the second half Saturday. That 20-point run led the Huskies to a 37-29 American Athletic Conference victory over UCF.
After trailing at halftime, UCF (5-3, 3-1) grabbed a 21-17 lead with 9:39 left in the third quarter. J.J. Worton hauled in a Holman aerial near midfield, quickly reversed field, and broke three tackles along the way for a 73-yard touchdown reception. But UConn (2-6, 1-4) scored three straight touchdowns, en route to the eight-point victory.
The Huskies took advantage of four UCF interceptions and uncharacteristic breakdowns on defense and special teams by the Knights.
"We really didn't play smart football out there, in any phase - offense, defense or special teams," UCF head coach George O'Leary said. "I thought Connecticut took advantage of our mistakes. It was a game of mistakes. You can't do the things we did out there."
O'Leary discounted any effect the cold weather or wet ball may have had on the outcome.
"They (Connecticut) played in the same weather we did," O'Leary said. "They put more points than we did on the board, simple as that. We made too many mistakes. Usually, mistakes are due to a lack of mental concentration."
Ron Johnson put the Huskies on top 24-21 with 4:17 remaining in the third, starting the UConn 20-point streak. Johnson's one-yard plunge capped a 13-play, 79-yard drive. Less than three minutes later, the Huskies went up by 10 points, 31-21. UConn's Jefferson Ashiru came up with one of four Justin Holman interceptions at the UCF 34-yard line. Five plays later, Chandler Whitmer hit Noel Thomas with a 22-yard touchdown pass.
Early in the fourth quarter, Johnson scored the Huskies' third straight TD. Jaryl Mamea blocked the extra point, keeping UCF within two touchdowns and two PATs, 37-21.
"It was inconsistency," sophomore running back William Stanback said. "Missed opportunities, things we should have capitalized on and we just missed our opportunities."
UCF scored on a Holman-to-Perriman touchdown with just more than five minutes left in the game. A two-point conversion pass from Holman to Josh Reese pulled the Knights back within one score, 37-29. But it wasn't enough.
The UCF defense forced a three-and-out, giving the Knights possession near midfield with just less than three minutes left. It looked as though the Knights were going be in the red zone with more than one minute remaining. Holman found J.J. Worton to the UConn 20-yard line. But an offensive pass interference penalty pushed the Knights all the way back into their own territory. Two plays later, on 4th-and-16, Holman's pass for Reese was incomplete.
UCF took advantage of UConn's only turnover to break on top 7-0 midway through the first quarter. Stanback, who rushed for a career-high 141 yards, capped the drive by out-running the UConn defense around the right end. Deshon Foxx tied it at 7-7 for the Huskies with a 68-yard touchdown run.
Stanback put UCF back on top 14-7 with a one-yard plunge at the 4:59 mark of the second quarter. But UConn answered with 10 quick points. Whitmer found Noel Thomas on a 38-yard touchdown pass to tie things up at 14-14 at the 1:12 mark. UConn then took advantage of an interception and an offside call on a blocked field goal to take the lead at halftime. Bobby Puyol converted a 43-yard kick to take a 17-14 edge at the break.
The Knights racked up 429 yards of offense, while UConn managed just 329. But three of the Huskies' touchdown drives traveled 54 yards or less.