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EAST HARTFORD — It was not their best day, but UConn football did enough to win against Ball State, holding on for a 31-25 win on Saturday afternoon at Rentschler Field. The Huskies (2-2) captured their first FBS win of the season as running back Cam Edwards finished with 24 carries for 194 yards and two touchdowns.
The Huskies got the ball first and stalled at the 50-yard line on their first drive. Punter Connor Stutz pinned Ball State on its own two-yard line to help set up better field position for the next drive.
After going three-and-out, the Cardinals sent a line-drive punt to Jackson Harper, who returned it to their 19-yard line. UConn managed a field goal after getting stuffed on third and short to make it 3-0 early.
After another Ball State punt, Joe Fagnano hit a long completion to Skyler Bell to get into visitor territory before hitting John Neider on a 4th-down fade to reach the nine-yard line. On 4th & Goal from the two, Fagnano hit Bell on a play-action pass to Bell to make it 10-0 with the first quarter winding down.
The Cardinals moved the ball well on their next drive, getting into UConn territory after a long screen pass and moving into the end zone on a RB-pass trick play on 4th & 2 to make it 10-7 early in the second quarter. The two teams traded punts to keep that score until halftime.
After a Ball State punt to start the second half, Fagnano converted two fourth downs through the air and got help from a roughing penalty on a third-down at the goalline to set up a short Terrence Smith touchdown run that made it 17-7.
The Cardinals responded with a solid drive of their own, finding space through the ground and on the air before QB Kiael Kelly was stuffed on third down near the goal-line. They settled for a field goal to make it 17-10 after three quarters.
On the ensuing Husky drive, UConn moved back due to a holding penalty, but a 19-yard completion to Bell on third down kept the drive alive. After Cam Edwards ran for a first down, UConn was facing 4th & 1 from the BSU 32. Edwards took the hand-off, found a lane, and took it all the way to the house to make it 24-10 with 10:24 left.
Ball State marched down the field against UConn’s prevent defense and got a touchdown to make it 24-17 with 3:28 left. But Edwards sealed the deal with a 67-yard TD run on 3rd & 9 to get us to our final score.
Next week, the Huskies are on the road for the third time this season to take on Buffalo. Kick-off is at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday; the game will be televised on ESPN+.
UB is 2-2 after losing to Troy at home on Saturday, 21-17. The Bulls lost badly at UConn last year, 47-3. This year, they’ve notched wins over Kent State and FCS St. Francis and have legitimate hopes to compete for the MAC crown in their second season under head coach Pete Lembo. They also feature former Husky Ta’quan Roberson at quarterback.
