Video: UConn Football’s Fatusaki, Johnson Learned Valuable Lessons in Win Over Villanova

Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties could have cost the UConn football team their win over Villanova last Thursday night.

With the UConn football team leading the Villanova Wildcats 13-9 in the fourth quarter, running Ron Johnson broke off an eight-yard run that took the ball down to the ‘Nova 16 yard line. After the play, Johnson made a gesture towards an opposing player and was penalized 15 yards.

UConn football head coach Bob Diaco immediately pulled Johnson from the game and two plays later, Arkeel Newsome picked up his backfield mate when he caught a screen pass from Bryant Shirreffs and took it 27 yards for a touchdown.

Later in the quarter, Villanova was driving down the field and had the ball at the UConn three-yard line. Folorunso Fatukasi picked up a sack of QB John Robertson on second down. On fourth down, it had appeared that UConn football had held the Wildcats from scoring and would get the ball back.

Instead, Fatukasi let his emotions get the best of him and during an altercation with a Villanova player, Foley threw a punch and was ejected from the game.  It took the Wildcats just two players to score and cut the UConn football lead to 20-15.

After the game, both players showed remorse and said it was a valuable lesson learned especially when either one could have cost the UConn football team a season opening win.

Watch and/or listen below as UConn football head coach Bob Diaco, Fatuskasi and Johnson talk about what happened after the game.