EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – The UConn Huskies pounded their way to 271 yards rushing en route to a 34-27 win over Georgia State in the final home game of the season in front of 22, 028 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Friday night.

The win gives the Huskies (6-3) bowl eligibility for the second time in the last three seasons and the eighth time in the program's FBS history.  The Huskies finish out their seven-game home schedule with a 6-1 record, their best record at home since Jim Mora's first season in 2022 when they went 5-1.  It is their most home wins since a 6-0 home campaign in 2010.

Running back Mel Brown (Stone Mountain, GA) finished with 138 yards on 14 carries with a touchdown while Cam Edwards (Norwalk, CT) had 88 yards on 13 carries to lead the ground game.

UConn started fast on Friday night, forcing and three-and-out on the Panthers first possession then using a Brown 52-yard run to set-up a first-and-goal. Quarterback Nick Evers (Flower Mound, TX) hit tight end Louis Hansen (Dover, MA) in the flat and he dove from the front pylon for a 7-0 lead just 1:24 into the game.  A Chris Freeman (Zionsville, IN) 42-yard field goal put the Huskies up 10-0 at 3:31 of the first quarter.

Georgia State (2-6) clawed back in the second quarter and a Zach Gibson to Ted Hurst 11-yard touchdown and Liam Rickman 30-yard field goal, coming off a UConn fumble, tied the game at 10-10 with 3:29 left in the half.  The Panthers had the ball and driving for late first half points but defensive back D'Mon Brinson (Miami, FL) got his first career interception with 1:00 left in the half, setting the Huskies up for a late field goal.  UConn's drive stalled out on the Panther 10-yard line before Freeman knocked through a 28-yarder for a 13-10 lead at the half.

UConn opened the second half getting the ball and put together a six-play, 75-yard drive that featured a 46-yard Cam Edwards (Norwalk, CT) run and ended with Durell Robinson (Seat Pleasant, MD) plunging in from a yard out for his sixth touchdown on the season and a 20-10 lead.

Georgia State answered with the longest scoring drive allowed by the UConn defense this season, 16-plays, but the Panthers were forced to settle for another Rickman field goal to pull within 20-13.

The Huskies dominated the start of the fourth quarter as Evers finished off an eight-play drive with a five-yard touchdown run off-tackle to make it 27-13 at 12:54. The UConn defense got their second pick of the night on the next possession as safety Malik Dixon-Williams (Orlando, FL) intercepted Christian Veilleux on the sidelines at the Panther 31-yard line.  On the next play, Brown burst up the right sidelines for the touchdown, clinching his second 100-yard effort this season and making it 34-13 at 11:26.

The Panthers made it interesting down the stretch as Freddie Brock ripped off a 55-yard touchdown up the middle of the defense with 9:57 left then a late Gibson scramble for six to cap a 12-play drive to pull within 34-27 with 1:47 to go.  Georgia State lined up for an onside kick but UConn recovered then converted on a fourth down to get in position to kneel out the clock on the win.

Georgia State's Gibson finished 28-of-40 for 257 yards a touchdown and a rushing touchdown in the loss.

Up Next:

UConn begins a three-game road swing to close out the regular season next Saturday, November 9 when they head to UAB for a 2:30 pm EST kick-off.  The game will be available on ESPN+