The University of Virginia football program lost a 13-10 contest with the University of CT on Saturday in East Hartford. They turned to senior Bobby Puyol, who had a game-winning kick in the season opener, and he delivered on the 43-yarder with 1:33 remaining. His 37-yard field goal with 11 seconds left beat ME in the Huskies’ season-opener. “I said, ‘Get it down in field-goal range, ready to go and I’ll make it”. CT was led by quarterback Bry Shirreffs who threw for 154 yards, and ran for another 33, which included a touchdown.
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To their credit, sort of, UConn improved as the game went on, with some smart, easy throws to Noel Thomas (as well as some pass interference penalties, which I’m told are impossible to get on inside handoffs).
Kurt Benkert, who went down for a loss of 12 yards to begin the fourth quarter, had his left shoulder wrapped and arm in a sling after the game. On the other hand, the defense came up with 2 consecutive stops, forcing two punts by the Cavaliers.
Puyol, who also had a 21-yard field goal and is a flawless 4-for-4 this season, downplayed his clutch kick. Furbank sailed the attempt wide left after he never seemed to get his feet set before the snap.
“I know I rushed the kick a little bit and that’s 100 percent on me”, he said.
Virginia’s quest for its first road win since 2012 and first-year head coach Bronco Mendenhall’s first win as the Cavaliers’ head man fell short on Saturday. Now QB Bryant Shirreffs and the UCONN Huskies seek their second win as they play at home today. “They fought hard from the beginning and I think they took a step forward again today”.
Virginia got on the board first with a field goal after a long drive taking up more than 5 minutes on their second offensive possession. He transferred into Virginia as a sophomore after spending last season playing Division 3 soccer. In fact, the team stormed out of the gate to lead 10-0 less than 18 minutes into it. Furbank hit a 23-yarder to open the scoring in the first quarter and Albert Reid followed with a 9-yard touchdown run early in the second.
The Huskies missed several second-half scoring chances.
Virginia’s Andrew Brown (9) and Donte Wilkins (1) celebrate a sack of CT quarterback Bryant Shirreffs in the first half of Saturday’s college football game in East Hartford, Conn.
Another turnover by the Huskies ended a promising drive but Jamar Summers intercepted the ball on the very next play. It was the first pick of the season for Summers, who had eight last season.
While the Huskies forced a 3-and-out on the first series of the game, those issues returned on both sides of the ball as the Huskies 21 yards of offense in the quarter and the Cavaliers moved the ball on its final two drives of the period.
Virginia came into the game ranked 122nd out of 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams giving up an average of 5.7 yards per carry but the Huskies had two yards on nine carries before Arkeel Newsome ripped off back to back runs of 38 and 19 yards.
Virginia threatened to retake the lead shortly after, but large, angry human Foley Fatukasi saved the day, stuffing a 4-and-1 run up the middle with the help of Junior Joseph.
“It was painful, that’s all I can say”, Reid said.
Newsome ran 13 times for 90 yards for UConn. Reid had 73 rushing yards, while Keeon Johnson posted 73 receiving yards. The defense had allowed UVA to run nearly double the amount of plays for double the yards and first downs, but only gave up a 10 points. The team had not won away from Charlottesville since November 3, 2012, when Virginia beat North Carolina State 33-6.
UCONN: The Huskies play their second straight home game against an ACC opponent when they face Syracuse next Saturday.
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The Gatorade National High Player of the Year in 2013, Brown was slowed by injuries as a true freshman in 2014 and made just one start last year.
