Endres, Frey Help UConn Roll Over Buffalo 45-21

UConn Huskies head coach Randy Edsall made a ballsy move at halftime when he yanked his starting quarterback Zach Frazer in favor of Cody Endres, who had been suspended for the first three games of the 2010 season.

But it worked out for Edsall as Endres made him look like a genius as he led the team on scoring drives in three of his first four series to help UConn to a 45-21 win over the Buffalo Bulls in front of 36,738 at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT.

Frazer wasn’t really all that bad in the first half of the game but the offense never really got flowing. He took the field up 7-0 thanks to a Jerome Junior interception return for a touchdown. On the first drive, he drove the team down the field eighty yards in just 4:15 capped off by D.J. Shoemate’s four yard scamper into the end zone.

From there though, Frazer didn’t do much and ended up throwing his first interception of the season. Was that enough to warrant being benched? While I’m not sure, Edsall decided to go with Endres from there.

After Buffalo scored late in the first half, Endres came out and took the knee. As the Huskies were heading to the locker room, Edsall told WTIC’s Kevin Nathan that Endres would be his QB1 in the second half.

All Endres did was lead the team down for a field goal on his first drive and one play touchdown drive his second time out. That one went to Michael Smith for 56 yards. His third drive wasn’t as great as the rust showed when he fumbled the handoff to Shoemate after colliding with fullback Anthony Sherman.

But he bounced back his next time on the field.

After a Buffalo touchdown got it to within three at 24-21, Endres marched the Huskies down the field 60 yards in eight plays culminated by Robbie Frey’s nine yard touchdown run. Frey was supposed to spend the game on special teams after being banged up during practice this week but with a ineffective Shoemate, Frey did what he does and finished with over 100 yards rushing (112) for the second time this season.

It’s quite obvious now that Frey will be the No. 1 running back for as long as Jordan Todman is out. Shoemate is a straight runner while Frey has the ability to make cuts and find the lanes which he showed a few times on Saturday afternoon.

The whole offense seemed to flow better under Endres. It really seemed like the Huskies had more confidence with Endres under center even though he only began practicing this week after missing a good portion of the preseason. While Frazer has the stronger arm, Endres has a better touch and is a more accurate passer at this point than Frazer.

Sure this was only Buffalo but with Endres getting most of the reps at practice this week, the offense should get even better with him. If Todman can return to health quickly, he along with Frey should provide a nice two-headed monster at running back.

It was a much needed win for the Huskies who look to finish out non-conference play next week when Vanderbilt comes to town. A win for the Huskies would go a long way before beginning Big East play the following week.

Scoring:

1st quarter

CON – 13:34 – Jerome Junior 27 Yd Interception Return (Dave Teggart Kick) – UConn 7 Buffalo 0

CON – 5:17 – D.J. Shoemate 4 Yd Run (Dave Teggart Kick) – UConn 14 Buffalo 0

2nd quarter

BUF – 12:49 – Ed Young 60 Yd Pass From Jerry Davis (A.J. Principe Kick) – UConn 14 Buffalo 7

BUF – 0:36 – Ed Young 1 Yd Pass From Jerry Davis (A.J. Principe Kick) – UConn 14 Buffalo 14

3rd quarter

CON – 12:16 – Dave Teggart 37 Yd Field Goal – UConn 17 Buffalo 14

CON – 10:24 – Michael Smith 56 Yd Pass From Cody Endres (Dave Teggart Kick) – UConn 24 Buffalo 14

BUF – 7:48 – Ed Young 7 Yd Pass From Jerry Davis (A.J. Principe Kick) – UConn 24 Buffalo 21

CON – 3:58 – Robbie Frey 9 Yd Run (Dave Teggart Kick) – UConn 31 Buffalo 21

4th quarter

CON – 14:56 – Ryan Griffin 6 Yd Pass From Cody Endres (Dave Teggart Kick) – UConn 38 Buffalo 21

CON – 4:01 – Blidi Wreh-Wilson 46 Yd Interception Return (Chad Christen Kick) – UConn 45 Buffalo 21

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Offensive Player of the Game:

Very tough call between Cody Endres, Robbie Frey and Michael Smith in my opinion. But to me it is Endres who came in and helped the Huskies to score on three of their first four drives in the second half. He was 7-of-11 for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensive Players of the Game:

Sio Moore and Lawrence Wilson take home the honors this week. Moore, starting for Greg Lloyd, finished with a game-high 16 tackles and had an interception. Wilson had 14 tackles.

Turning Point(s) of the Game:

Cody Endres entering the game and leading the UConn offense to scores on three of his first four drives to start the second half.

Offensive Notes:

Zach Frazer was 7-of-14 for 94 yards with his first interception of the year. Cody Endres took over in the second half and was 7-of-11 for 139 yards and two touchdowns. Endres did have a fumble as well.

Robbie Frey led the Huskies with 112 yards rushing and one touchdown. All of his rushing yards came in the second half. D.J. Shoemate had 16 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown. He also suffered his second lost fumble of the season.

Michael Smith had  four catches for 130 yards and a touchdown. Kashif Moore had five catches for 70 yards. Dwayne Difton, starting for the first time this season, had three catches for 25 yards and was impressive on one of them when he fought for extra yardage that gave the Huskies a first down. Tight end Ryan Griffin’s only catch of the day was good for a touchdown.

Defensive Notes:

Sio Moore led the Huskies with 16 tackles and had an interception. Lawrence Wilson added 14 tackles. Jesse Joseph had seven tackles as did Twyon Martin. Joseph also added a sack as did Trevardo Williams. Jerome Junior had two interceptions including returning one for a touchdown. Blidi-Wreh Wilson also had an interception return for a touchdown.

Special Teams Notes:

Anthony Sherman is a beast on special teams as he had three tackles. Dave Teggart hit all six of his extra point tries and was 1-of-2 on field goals. He made one from 37 yards and had his attempt from 42 yards blocked. Cole Wagner had four punts for 149 yards and had two of then downed inside the 20. Of Chad Christen’s eight kickoffs, three of them went for touchbacks.

Injuries:

Meme Wylie suffered an apparent knee injury and didn’t return to the game.

Officials:

Referee: Stan Evans; Umpire: Ken Zelmanski; Linesman: Greg Nowak; Line judge: Mark Bennett; Back judge: Mike Elliott; Field judge: Kevin Sullivan; Side judge: Frank Steratore;

Game Notes:

Buffalo Bulls @ UConn Huskies 9.25.10 box score

Here are postgame quotes from UConn head coach Randy Edsall, QB Cody Endres, RB Robbie Frey, Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn and WR Ed Young

Game notes are courtesy of the UConn Athletics Communication Department:

• The Huskies’ victory extends UConn’s record to 14-4 vs. Buffalo all-time and 16-2 against MAC opposition since joining FBS
• D.J. Shoemate recorded his first start as a Husky amassing a career high of 16 carries and 60 yards while notching his first career TD
• Jerome Junior snagged Dwayne Gratz’s pass deflection on Buffalo’s first drive; Junior’s 27-yard INT return for a TD was the first for a Husky since Robert Vaughn (vs. Pitt, Oct. 10, 2009). Junior also collected a fourth quarter INT.
• Teammates Michael Smith and Kashif Moore have grabbed multiple receptions in all four games this season; Moore extended his streak of multiple catch games to six
• Michael Smith hauled in a career-high 130 receiving yards and a touchdown
• In his first career start, Sio Moore registered a career-high 16 tackles and his first career INT
• Taylor Mack’s 26-yard punt return is the season long for the Huskies
• Cole Wagner has had a punt downed inside the 20-yard line in all four games this season
• The Husky defense allowed its longest play of the season (60-yard TD reception)
• Zach Frazer threw his first interception of the season on a tipped ball in the second quarter
• Dave Teggert has connected on a FG in six consecutive games
• Cody Endres appearance was the first of the season for the former starter
• Ryan Griffin grabbed his first touchdown of the season and extended his consecutive game streak with a catch to three
• Robbie Frey set career highs with 13 carries and 112 yards
• Blidi Wreh-Wilson returned a fourth quarter INT 46 yards for his first career touchdown

Big East Games and Results:

Thursday, September 23

#19 Miami 31
Pittsburgh 3

Saturday, September 25

Western Kentucky 12
South Florida 24

#8 Oklahoma 31
Cincinnati 29

South Florida 14
#8 Florida 38

Colgate 7
Syracuse 42

North Carolina 17
Rutgers 13

#22 West Virginia 14
#15 LSU 20

Things to Work On:

• With Endres being the No. 1 starter going forward, he’ll get the reps he needs. While he didn’t look all that rusty, it was apparent there was a little rust when he fumbled the ball on the handoff to D.J. Shoemate when he hit fullback Anthony Sherman.
• Still some gaps in the secondary. They shouldn’t have been beat on the 60 yard touchdown pass as well as the one yarder at the end of the first half.
• Left side of the offensive line needs to continue to work on their protection. They allowed two sacks after UConn had allowed only two all season.

Up Next:

The Huskies stay at home next Saturday as they’ll host the Vanderbilt Commodores in a noon kickoff at Rentschler Field. It is homecoming for UConn.

Photo credits (in order of photo): Hartford Courant, Hartford Courant

Editor’s note: My apologies for this being very late. I had a previous commitment to attend to right after the game and was unable to do anything until late tonight.