EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn defense held the Rice offense to 178 total yards including just 88 yards passing on the road to a 17-10 win over the Owls in front of 23,711 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies (5-3) limited the Owls (2-6) to just three points on offense while forcing eight three-and-outs and holding Rice to just two-for-16 on third down on Saturday. UConn finished with nine tackles for loss, including two sacks, and had 11 pass break-ups in a dominating defensive effort.
On the flip side, UConn's offense struggled to get going, being shutout in the first half for just the second time this season, the last being the season-opener at Maryland. UConn 18 yards rushing at the half, turning it over twice that led to a Rice field goal and 3-0 first quarter lead.
The rushing attack had 30 yards on 23 carries early in the third quarter before running back Durell Robinson (Seat Pleasant, MD) kick-started the UConn attack. On the first play of the team's second drive of the second half, the r-freshman back blew through the line of scrimmage and then up the right sideline untouched for a 68-yard touchdown run to get the Huskies on the board and a lead they would never let go of. For UConn and Robinson, it was the longest run of the season and got the UConn offense moving. Robinson would go on to carry it 15 times for 132 yards in the win, his second 100-yard effort this season, and score his fifth touchdown on the year.
UConn extended their lead to 14-3 at 10:15 in the fourth quarter as a quarterback Nick Evers (Flower Mound, TX) 34-yard hook-up with Skyler Bell (Bronx, NY) set up the Huskies on the Rice nine-yard line and back Cam Edwards (Norwalk, CT) finished off the drive with a four-yard score, his fifth TD this season.
Place kicker Chris Freeman (Zionsville, IN), who saw a streak of 11-straight makes snapped when a 53-yard attempt missed in the first half, tacked on a 30-yard field goal with 3:40 left in the fourth to give UConn a 17-3 advantage. On the ensuing kick-off, Rice's Quinton Jackson ripped off a 100-yard return to pay-dirt, pulling the Owls within 17-10 with 3:28 left. It was the first time allowing a kick-off return for a touchdown since 2015 against Houston (Brandon Wilson – 94 yards).
The Owl defense was able to get the ball back to the offense but with just 22 seconds left and on their own nine-yard line. After a Pryce Yates (San Antonio, TX) sack, his second of the day, the Huskies forced a fumble on the final play to end the game.
The Huskies finished with 309 yards of total offense, 181 on the ground and 128 through the air. UConn also struggled on third down, finishing three-for-16 while also allowing a season-high three sacks. Both teams combined for 20 punts in the game.
Linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown (Pittsburgh, PA) made 10 tackles, 1.5 for loss, with a forced fumble and two pass break-ups. Defensive tackle Dal'Mont Gourdine (North Charlston, SC) had four of UConn's pass break-ups.
Up Next:
The Huskies close out their seven-game home slate on Friday, November 1 hosting Georgia State. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 pm on CBS Sports Network.
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