Fenway Bowl Postgame Press Conference
The UConn Huskies took the field at Fenway Park for their final game of the season, losing 34-16 against Army to end the season 9-4.
Without their starting quarterback and some other key players, UConn fought through a tight first half before the Black Knights ran away with it in the second half. The Huskies won the Fenway Bowl last year; this one was not close.
Freshman Ksaan Farrar got the start under center for the Huskies under interim head coach Gordon Sammis. Skyler Bell attempted the first pass of the game on a trick play before shutting down for the day early. The Huskies punted on their first drive but got the ball back after a fourth-down stop.
The offense struggled most of the day, while Army had little trouble moving the ball, feasting on the run while also completing some big passes throughout.
UConn faced a fourth down of its own four plays later, with Cam Edwards breaking outside for a 34-yard stride before finishing the drive with a 12-yard touchdown on the next play to go up 7-0 early.
Edwards finished with 108 yards on 11 carries to finish the season with 1,240 rushing yards and 15 TDs. He also ended the season with three straight 100-yard performances.
Army responded with a 40-yard play-action pass from Cale Hellums to Noah Short to tie the game in the middle of the first quarter. A penalty stalled the next Husky drive, while a fumble stopped the Black Knights on their next possession. DB D’Mon Brinson knocked the ball out of Jake Redina’s hands and DL Matt Hoffman recovered it.
The Huskies didn’t make much of their post-turnover drive, punting after Farrar was sacked on 3rd down. Army took the ball and drove 90 yards for a go-ahead score, converting twice on 3rd & 7 before a 42-yard TD run by Godspower Nwawuihe up the middle to go up 14-7 with the second quarter winding down.
Getting the ball back with 3:04 left, Edwards and Mel Brown toted the rock downfield to set up a Chris Freeman field goal that made it 14-10 at halftime.
The Black Knights started the third quarter with a 70-yard TD run on their second play from scrimmage, then made it two unanswered touchdowns as Hellums completed two long passes before a one-yard keeper run to make it 27-10 in the middle of the third quarter.
Farrar led the Huskies down the field on their next drive, making it to the Army 11 before a fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete. The Black Knights marched 89 yards before another Hellums rushing touchdown made it 34-10.
UConn managed one more score as a Farrar keeper on another fourth-down play hit paydirt to make it 34-16 after their two-point attempt missed. The Huskies’ onside kick attempt failed, and Army got another touchdown to get us to our final score.
Up next, new head coach Jason Candle takes over, and staffing announcements are expected soon. They’ll begin offseason recruiting for the portal and remaining high school prospects, and start spring football practice in January.
