The Huskies’ defense came up with the game-winning stop on the game’s last play.
The UConn Huskies improved to 4-2 after a thrilling 29-20 victory over Temple in a gritty, back-and-forth battle. Starting quarterback Nick Evers was out due to a head injury suffered in last week’s Buffalo game, giving Joe Fagnano his second start of the season.
UConn was moving the ball on its first drive, going 52 yards after the opening kickoff before it ended with a turnover on downs. It looked like Cam Edwards tripped up on the fourth-and-short attempt. The Huskies had some mistakes but got a field goal after Temple fumbled a punt to give the ball back with great field position and make it 3-0 in the middle of the first quarter.
The Husky defense continued to make stops against a hapless Owls attack but UConn’s offense stalled as well. Temple was getting the better of the hosts in the field position battle, in part thanks to some well-placed or booming punts from Dante Atton. The Huskies had a punt blocked and recovered for a touchdown on a drive that started on their own 12-yard line, making it 7-3 with 10 minutes left in the first half.
Penalties pushed the Huskies deep into Temple territory on the drive that ended with their next score, a field goal to make it 7-6. UConn got the ball back for one final chance before halftime and drove into Temple territory for another field goal to get us to 9-7 at the break.
The second half saw both teams trade leads though football excellence was in short supply. Temple took the lead after a 60-yard field goal on the third quarter’s opening drive that made it 10-9.
On the ensuing drive, a Fagnano pass attempted to TJ Sheffield slipped through the receiver’s hands into a defender’s arms, leading to a missed Temple field goal. Fagnano fumbled on the next drive on a play where he was running the ball and stuffed, losing the ball in the pileup. Temple hit another field goal to extend its lead to 13-9.
Sheffield redeemed himself with a nice catch-and-run for a 58-yard touchdown to put UConn back ahead, 16-13, but Temple responded right back with a touchdown drive against a tired Husky defense to make it 20-16. Sheffield finished with nine catches for 142 yards.
Fagnano found Brett Buckman while scrambling for a 32-yard gain to help set up UConn’s next touchdown, to go ahead 23-20. Durell Robinson finished the job with three runs from the 14-yard line. Fagnano finished 24-of-41 on his passing attempts for 272 yards with one touchdown and three turnovers.
With time running down, Temple drove almost 70 yards down the field looking to score the game-winning touchdown. It converted a 4th-and-short from the 10 with 1:46 left. Three plays later, the Owls had 4th-and-goal from the one with three seconds left to play and Temple’s Tyler Douglas fumbled. The ball was picked up by Jordan Wright who ran it back 96 yards for the game-sealing touchdown as time expired.
Next up, the Huskies have a bye week before hosting Wake Forest at noon on Oct. 19. CBS Sports Network will televise the game.