UConn Spoils Rutgers Big East Title Hopes

The Rutgers Scarlet Knights came into this game looking to secure a share of the Big East title and a possible BCS bid. The UConn Huskies were looking to salvage their season and get closer to becoming bowl-eligible as well as sending off the seniors with a final home win.

The Huskies were able to take advantage of some early Rutgers turnovers and good field position on their way to a 40-22 win over the Scarlet Knights in front of 37,857 on Senior Day at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, CT on Saturday afternoon.

The Huskies improve to 5-6 (3-3 Big East) while the Scarlet Knights finish their regular season at 8-4 (4-3).

Last week, the Huskies allowed the Louisville Cardinals to take the opening kickoff back for a touchdown and that essentially took themselves out of the ball game. Saturday was a different story as the opening kickoff went out of the end zone.

The Huskies quickly turned the tables on Rutgers when Sio Moore forced a fumble by Rutgers RB Jawan Jamison that was recovered at RU’s 24 by Jesse Joseph. Just two plays after the recovery, Lyle McCombs punched it in the end zone to put UConn out front.

UConn would force another turnover on Rutgers’ next possession when Ty-Meer Brown picked off Chas Dodd at the RU 44 and returned it four yards. During the ensuing drive on 3rd and 13 at the 22, UConn QB Johnny McEntee hit senior WR Kashif Moore for 14 yards. Two plays later, Scott McCummings got it into the end zone to put UConn up 14-0.

UConn’s defense helped out things in the second quarter when senior Kendall Reyes picked up a fumble on the snap and returned it nine yards for a touchdown to push UConn’s lead to 21-3.

Nick Williams, who had an outstanding day on special teams returning the ball, set up UConn’s score in the 3rd quarter when he returned the opening kickoff 54 yards to the Rutgers 41 yard line. It would take McCombs just three plays to get in the end zone running all 41 yards to put UConn up 31-10.

UConn forced Rutgers to punt on the next possession and once again it was Williams who set up the Huskies with good field position by returning the punt 30 yards to Rutgers 34 yard line. They also got some help from the Scarlet Knights defense when Justin Francis was called for roughing the passer on 3rd and 3. This gave UConn the ball at RU 14 and McCummings took just one play to get in the back of the end zone to ensure the rout for the Huskies despite the extra point being blocked.

It was the first time in Dave Teggart’s career that he missed an extra point and oddly enough it came on senior day where he was honored before the game.

What I wonder is where was the UConn team all year? For the first time this year as far as I can remember, they took advantage of the other teams mistakes. They got great play from the defense and the offense did what it needed to do.

It makes you think where they might be had they been able to put a consistent effort in their other games like they did on Saturday.

Now they’ll prepare themselves to play spoiler again as Cincinnati has an outside chance of a share of the Big East title. The Huskies will also look to become bowl-eligible in their final game of 2011.

Scoring:

1st quarter

CON – 12:51 – Lyle McCombs 10 Yd Run (Dave Teggart Kick)

CON – 07:16 – Scott McCummings 5 Yd Run (Dave Teggart Kick)

2nd quarter

RU – 13:01 – San San Te 25 Yd Field Goal

CON – 07:39 – Kendall Reyes 9 Yd Fumble Return (Dave Teggart Kick)

RU – 04:05 – Jawan Jamison 1 Yd Run (San San Te Kick)

CON – 00:01 – Dave Teggart 33 Yd Field Goal

3rd quarter

CON – 13:36 – Lyle McCombs 4 Yd Run (Dave Teggart Kick)

CON – 10:13 – Scott McCummings 14 Yd Run (Pat Blocked)

CON – 02:43 – Dave Teggart 47 Yd Field Goal

4th quarter

RU – 07:57 – Brandon Coleman 17 Yd Pass From Gary Nova (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)

RU – 02:15 – Brandon Coleman 92 Yd Pass From Gary Nova (Two-Point Pass Conversion Failed)

To continue reading, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UConn Huskies recap, click on the read more button below if you’re on the home page.

Offensive Player of the Game:

It’s hard to overlook what Nick Williams did on special teams. He had two key returns in the third quarter that set up two touchdowns. He also had a nice return early in the game that Huskies were unable to take advantage of.

Defensive Player of the Game:

Trevardo Williams was the man on defense. He had six tackles, a forced fumble and four sacks. His four sacks went for losses of 30 yards total.

Turning Point(s) of the Game:

After getting a field goal to end the first half, UConn came out and scored on their first two possessions thanks to some great returns by Nick Williams. For me this was the difference in the game.

Offensive Notes:

Johnny McEntee was 10-of-16 for 90 yards. Scott McCummings was 1-of-1 for 22 yards and had 10 rushes for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Lyle McCombs had 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns with four catches for 30 yards. Jonathan Jean-Louis added 10 carries for 42 yards. Kashif Moore had three catches for 34 yards while Ryan Griffin had three catches for 31 yards.

Defensive Notes:

Jory Johnson led the Huskies with eight tackles (four solo, four assisted). Blidi Wreh-Wilson had seven tackles (four solo, three assisted), two pass breakups, a half sack and an interception. Trevardo Williams had six tackles, a forced fumble and four sacks. His four sacks went for losses of 30 yards total. Byron Jones, Sio Moore and Yawin Smallwood all had six tackles. Moore also forced a fumble, a sack and had an interception while Smallwood had a fumble recovery. Twyon Martin picked up a half sack while Kendall Reyes had a fumble recovery that he returned for a touchdown. Jesse Joseph also had a fumble recovery.

Special Teams Notes:

Nick Williams had three kick returns for 128 yards with a long of 54. His only punt return went for 30 yards. Cole Wagner punted the ball four times for 170 yards with a long of 50 and two downed inside the 20. Of Chad Christen’s eight kickoffs, four of them went for touchbacks. He also kicked one out of bounds which is inexcusable.

Injuries:

David Kenney suffered an undisclosed injury on special teams.

Moe Petrus suffered an undisclosed injury and did return the game two plays later.

Officials:

Referee: Jeff Maconaghy; Umpire: Jim Eckl; Linesman: Tommy Walsh; Line judge: Todd LaPenta; Back judge: Bryan Platt; Field judge: Rick Santilli; Side judge: George Liotus;

Game Notes:

Rutgers Scarlet Knights @ UConn Huskies 11-26-11 box score

The postgame quotes will be added once they become available.

Here are the starters for the Huskies:

OFFENSE
TE 81 Manning, Corey
TE 94 Griffin, Ryan
LT 71 Ryan, Mike
LG 69 Greene, Steve
C 57 Petrus, Moe
RG 63 Masters, Adam
RT 77 Friend, Kevin
QB 18 McEntee, Johnny
TB 43 McCombs, Lyle
FB 39 Hinkley, Mark
WR 83 Moore, Isiah

DEFENSE
CB 21 Wilburn, Gary
DT 4 Martin, Tywon
DT 99 Reyes, Kendall
DE 91 Joseph, Jesse
SLB 3 Moore, Sio
MLB 33 Smallwood, Yawin
WLB 28 Johnson, Jory
CB 7 Gratz, Dwayne
S 40 Brown, Ty-Meer
S 16 Jones, Byron
CB 5 Wreh-Wilson, Blidi

Big East Games and Results:

Friday, November 25, 2011

Louisville 34
USF 24

Pittsburgh 20
West Virginia 21

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Cincinnati 30
Syracuse 13

Things to Work On:

Honestly at this point, they just really need to take the good from this game and continue it next week.

Up Next:

The Huskies will look to become bowl-eligible in their final game of the 2011 season when they travel to Nippert Stadium to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats next Saturday at noon.

Follow Ian on Twitter @soxanddawgs. And be sure to like us on Facebook as well.

Photo credit: US Presswire (No. 14, No. 5 in gallery)