The Huskies end the regular season with a win over their regional rival.
UConn football survived a back-and-forth affair at UMass, prevailing 47-42 at McGuirk Stadium to end their regular season 8-4, the program’s best mark since 2010.
Joe Fagnano threw three touchdown passes while Cam Edwards rushed for 142 yards on 18 carries with two total TDs and Durrell Robinson added 83 yards on 11 carries with a TD as both running backs averaged over 7.5 yards per carry.
On the Huskies’ first play from scrimmage, Fagnano hit Louis Hansen in the slot and Hansen ran it the rest of the way for a 55-yard touchdown pass to quickly make it 7-0. UConn’s offense stagnated after that and the home team responded with two sustained touchdown drives to pull ahead 14-7. Mel Brown returned the ensuing kickoff to the house to tie it at 14 which would be the score after one quarter.
The two teams exchanged touchdown drives in the second quarter before UMass pulled ahead. UConn knocked in a field goal and the Minutemen responded with a touchdown to make it 28-24 as the half was winding down. Starting the final drive with 1:12 left, Faganano led the Huskies down for a field goal to make it 28-27 at halftime.
After a turnover on downs and five punts to start the third quarter, UConn took the lead on a touchdown drive that started in UMass territory. Fagnano finished it off with a 26-yard deep route to Jasaiah Gaithings where the receiver made an incredible effort to pull down that ball and give the visitors the lead, 33-28, after missing the two-point attempt.
The Huskies forced a three-and-out on the next drive and with UMass punting deep in its own territory, UConn got the ball on the plus-35 to start its next drive. Fagnano found Edwards on a short screen to make it 40-28 early in the fourth quarter.
UMass would not let this one get away, responding with a 75-yard touchdown drive to make it 40-35. UConn responded right back, as Cam Edwards ran for 55 yards before Robinson punched it in from 15 yards out to put the Huskies up for good, 47-35. UMass got another touchdown and attempted an onside kick but committed a penalty to end the threat.
The victory puts the Huskies at eight wins on the season, their best result since 2010. It’s been a tremendous ride for Jim Mora in his third season at the helm. The program is hitting high-water marks that harken back to its glory years. A bowl game should be in the cards for this squad. Hopefully, the Huskies get a chance to go for win number nine in December.