After the Syracuse Orange cut the score to 15-14, the UConn Huskies put up 24 unanswered points to win 39-14 at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. The win for the Huskies improves their record to 7-3 (3-2 Big East) and drops the Orange to 2-8 (1-5) and probably seals the fate of the Orange head coach Greg Robinson.
All week long the question was who would be the quarterback for the Huskies in tonight’s game. Head coach Randy Edsall in Bill Belichick-like fashion kept quiet, saying wait until Saturday night to find out. Well it ended up being Tyler Lorenzen and not Cody Endres or Zach Frazer at the helm of the mothership.
Lorenzen didn’t have the best of games as his timing was off just a little. He was just 7-of-15 for 70 yards with his longest pass going for 17 yards. He also had 7 rushes for 10 yards. One thing is for certain though, the Huskies are definitely a better team with him at QB1. The offensive unit looked more relaxed with Lorenzen behind center. Lorenzen also brings another dynamic as he can run the ball as well and that opens up things.
Donald Brown had another big night for the Huskies as he had 22 rushes for 131 yards including a 49 yard run for his only touchdown of the night. Jordan Todman also had a big night rushing the ball as he had 6 carries for 78 yards and touchdown. His TD came on a 50 yard run on a reverse.
The UConn defense was strong throughout the game holding the Orange to 90 total yards in the 1st half and 97 yards through 3 quarters. The Orange ended up with just 147 yards total offense. Sadly enough, their longest play from scrimmage came on a 24 yard run by their punter Rob Long after a bad snap.
The Huskies picked off three passes on the night, including one by Robert McClain III who returned it 36 yards for a touchdown. The Huskies didn’t turn the ball over at all on the night. When you don’t turn the ball over, you’re usually going to give yourself a chance to win, which the Huskies did.
Even the Huskies special teams got in the act tonight as they were able to tackle Long in the end zone for safety after a bad snap. They also got a 70 yard punt return for a touchdown by Jasper Howard who got some great blocks along the way.
It’s a good win for the Huskies as it keeps their outside chances alive at winning the Big East Conference. They’ll need to win out and hope for some help along the way. And the way the Big East is going this year, anything is possible. The win also enhances the Huskies chances at a bowl (they are already bowl eligible) as the worst they can finish is 7-5.
Scoring:
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final |
| UConn Huskies | 3 | 19 | 17 | 0 | 39 |
| Syracuse Orange | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
1st quarter
CON – Dave Teggart 23 yard field goal – UConn 3 Syracuse 0
2nd quarter
CON – Teggart 37 yard field goal – UConn 6 Syracuse 0
SYR – Syracuse blocks punt, Parker Cantey recovers in end zone (Patrick Shadle PAT) – Syracuse 7 UConn 6
CON – Robbie Frey tackles punter in end zone for a safety – UConn 8 Syracuse 7
CON – Jordan Todman 50 yard run (Teggart PAT) – UConn 15 Syracuse 7
SYR – Curtis Brinkley 1 yard run (Shadle PAT) – UConn 15 Syracuse 14
CON – Donald Brown 49 yard run (Teggart PAT) – UConn 22 Syracuse 14
3rd quarter
CON – Teggart 21 yard field goal – UConn 25 Syracuse 14
CON – Jasper Howard 70 yard punt return (Teggart PAT)- UConn 32 Syracuse 14
CON – Robert McClain III 36 yard interception return (Teggart PAT) – UConn 39 Syracuse 14
4th quarter
None
Offensive Player of the Game:
Donald Brown had 22 rushes for 131 yards and a touchdown. He also caught 1 pass for a yard.
Defensive Player(s) of the Game:
Julius Williams and Cody Brown both had 2 sacks and 4 tackles on the night. Brown also had 2 pass breakups.
Turning Point(s) of the Game:
The 50 yard rushing touchdown by Jordan Todman and the 49 yard rushing touchdown by Donald Brown on back-to-back drives pretty much sealed the fate of the Orange.
Offensive Notes:
1st qtr -3rd & 5 CON 26 – Tyler Lorenzen hits Kashif Moore for 11 yard gain. Brad Kanuch called for block in the back. Play is nullified.
3rd & 1 SYR 44 – Brown rushes for 2 yards and a 1st down
2nd & 4 SYR 36 – Jordan Todman rushes for a 9 yard gain and a 1st down
1st & 10 SYR 27 – Lorenzen hits Kanuch for a 16 yard gain
1st & 10 – CON 38 – Brown rushes for a 14 yard gain and a 1st down
1st & 10 SYR 48 – Brown rushes for a 12 yard gain and a 1st down
1st & 10 CON 33 – Lorenzen hits Moore for 17 yards and a 1st down
1st & 10 CON 50 – Todman busts one for 50 yards and a touchdown
2nd & 4 SYR 49 – Brown breaks one for 49 yards and a touchdown
3rd qtr – 3rd & 9 CON 26 – Lorenzen sacked for a 8 yard loss
1st & 10 SYR 25 – Brown rushes for 17 yards and a 1st down
3rd & 8 CON 16 – Lorenzen hits Sherman for a 10 yard gain and a 1st down
2nd & 9 CON 27 – Todman rushes for 8 yards
3rd & 1 CON 35 – Brown rushes for 3 yards and a first down
2nd & 9 CON 39 – Brown rushes for 9 yards and a 1st down
2nd & 10 CON 48 – Brown stopped for a 5 yard loss
3rd & 15 CON 43 – Lorenzen hits Gaulden for 12 yard gain
4th qtr – 3rd & 4 CON 45 – Todman rushes 8 yards for a 1st down
1st & 10 CON 40 – Andre Dixon rushes for 9 yards
2nd & 1 CON 49 – Dixon rushes 6 yards for a 1st down
4th & 3 SYR 47 – Dixon rushes 15 yards for a 1st down
Defensive Notes:
1st qtr – 2nd & 3 SYR 41 – Scott Lutrus stops Antwon Bailey for a 5 yard loss
3rd & 11 SYR 25 – Julius Williams sacks Cam Dantley for a 6 yard loss
3rd & 7 SYR 10 – Cody Brown sacks Andrew Robinson for a 2 yard loss
1st & 10 SYR 5 – Greg Lloyd stops Cody Catalina for a 1 yard loss
1st & 10 CON 37 – Marcus Campbell stops Curtis Brinkley for a 1 yard loss
2nd & Goal CON 1 – Brown stops Dantley for a 1 yard loss
3rd & 4 SYR 36 – Brown sacks Dantley for a 1 yard loss
3rd qtr – 3rd & 8 SYR 35 – Robert Vaughn picks off Dantley at UConn 45 and returns it 30 yards
1st & 10 SYR 33 – Brown knocks down Dantley’s pass attempt
2nd & 10 SYR 33 – Rob Lunn called for defensive holding
1st & 10 SYR 43 – UConn called for offsides
1st & 5 SYR 48 – Howard knocks down Dantley’s pass attempt
3rd & 3 SYR 50 – Lindsey Witten sacks Dantley for a 7 yard loss
3rd & 3 SYR 18 – Brown knocks down Dantley’s pass attempt
1st & 10 SYR 31 – McClain picks off a Robinson pass at 37 yard line and returns it for a touchdown
4th qtr – 3rd & 7 CON 45 – Williams sacks Robinson for 3 yard loss
1st & 10 SYR 14 – Greg Lloyd and Scott Lutrus stop Delone Carter for a 4 yard loss
1st & 10 SYR 40 – Lloyd stops Brinkley for no gain
4th & 4 SYR 46 – Jasper Howard picks off Robinson pass at UConn 40
Special Teams Notes:
2nd qtr – Syracuse blocks punt in end zone and recovers for a touchdown
Robbie Frey returns kickoff 37 yards after touchdown
On a bad snap, Robbie Frey was able to tackle Syracuse punter in end zone for a safety
Jordan Todman returns kickoff 45 yards after second Cuse TD
3rd qtr – Jasper Howard returns punt 70 yards for a touchdown
4th qtr – On 4th & 8 at SYR 16, the snap was low to Syracuse punter Rob Long so he ran 24 yards for a 1st down.
Injuries:
3rd qtr – UConn RG Zach Hurd suffered an ankle injury and walked off on his own power
Syracuse LB Parker Cantey suffered a leg injury and walked off on his own power
Officials:
On Syracuse’s second touchdown, they went to the replay booth despite the fact that Brinkley was clearly in the end zone
Game Notes:
UConn Huskies @ Syracuse Orange 11.15.08 boxscore
Harry Hurt III from the New York Times was a guest sideline reporter during the ESPNU telecast. His column “Executive Pursuits” about this game will be published 2 weeks from tomorrow.
The Huskies held Syracuse to 90 total yards in 1st half while putting up 220 of their own. The Orange finshed with just 147 total yards on 59 plays. The Huskies finished with 329 total yards on 59 plays.
Syracuse had just 7 yards of offense in the 3rd quarter.
The run by Syracuse’s punter Rob Long (24 yards) was their longest play of the day.
Tyler Lorenzen returned to the Husky starting lineup after missing the past four games with a broken foot suffered at Louisville at Sept. 26. UConn is now 15-4 in games Lorenzen has started at quarterback during his career.
Redshirt freshman David Teggart made three field goals tonight and since taking over the kicking duties against Cincinnati, he has made his first nine career field goal attempts.
Teggart’s nine consecutive field goals is tied as the second-longest in school history along with David DeArmas in 1994 and Tony Ciaravino in 2007. Matt Nuzie is the leader with 10-straight in 2004.
The Huskies are now 4-12 in Big East road games.
Donald Brown is now UConn’s leading rusher with 3,254 career yards. He now has 1,537 yards rushing on the season and 16 rushing TD’s. Brown has now rushed for 100 yards or more in nine of 10 games this season and has 15 for his career. He is also now tied for 2nd all-time with Terry Caulley with 31 rushing TD’s. Wilbur Gilliard leads with 34.
Syracuse was just 1-of-14 on third down. The Huskies weren’t much better going 4-for-14.
The UConn defense had 11 tackles for a loss in the game.
Jasper Howard’s 69-yard punt return for a touchdown with 19 seconds left in the third quarter was his first career TD and the longest of his career.
The Huskies picked up 16 first downs in the game to just 8 for the Orange.
Robert McClain had a 37-yard interception for a touchdown with eight seconds left was his third interception of the season and his second this year for a TD.
Big East Games and Results:
11/14:
(22) Cincinnati 28 Louisville 21
11/15:
Rutgers 49 South Florida 16
Things to Work On:
The Huskies need to work on their punt block defense. They also need to work on their kick return defense as the Orange returned 8 kicks for 177 yards.
Get Tyler Lorenzen some more reps at QB during practice. You could tell he hadn’t played in a while with some of his throws as his timing was off.
Up Next:
The UConn Huskies stay on the road next weekend as they head for a matchup against the South Florida Bulls on Sunday, November 23rd. Kickoff is at 8 PM. We will have a live blog for the game. Details to come during the week.
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