🎥UConn vs. UMass Postgame Media Availability
Kalieb Osborne accounted for three touchdowns, Shamar Porter two, and UConn came out of its bye week firing on all cylinders in a 35-16 win over UMass.
The Huskies, now 4-3, scored two touchdowns 32 seconds apart late in the first half to take a 21-3 lead into halftime, with the defense forcing five consecutive three-and-outs in the first half. Osborne connected with JD Willoughby for a 20-yard touchdown with 1:36 to play in the first half. After forcing a UMass punt, Cyncir Bowers took the next play from scrimmage 70 yards for a touchdown.
Osborne continues to play efficient, mistake-free football. He finished 14-of-19 through the air for 179 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 66 yards on 15 carries and a touchdown. Bowers finished with 131 yards on 15 carries. He has 378 yards on the ground in his last three games. Willoughby had three receptions for 65 yards.
Both teams had lengthy drives to open the game. UMass chewed up nearly eight minutes to open the game, driving down to the UConn 3 before the Huskies sacked Pop Watson on third-and-goal. That forced a 24-yard field goal attempt from Derek Morris, which was good.
UConn’s initial offensive possession of the game saw them drive 75 yards on 13 plays. On second-and-goal, Osborne found Shamar Porter for a 5-yard touchdown to give UConn a 7-3 lead with 1:13 to play in the opening quarter.
Between that drive and UConn’s two touchdowns late in the second quarter, there was a whole lot of defense.
UMass amassed just five yards of total offense on its next five drives after the field goal. After their opening drive of the game, they didn’t get another first down until there was under one minute to play in the first half.
UConn’s offense stalled as well, but they were able to find their footing late in the second quarter. Huskies punter Tommy Warner pinned UMass at the 1. A quick three-and-out and a short punt gave the Huskies great field position at the UMass 45 with 2:43 to play in the half. They were able to take advantage, as a 12-yard scramble for Osborne helped set up a 20-yard touchdown pass to Willoughby with 1:36 to play in the half, extending the lead to 14-3.
UMass ran less than 30 seconds off the clock on its next drive, giving the Huskies the ball back with over a minute to play. Bowers needed just one play to extend the lead, bursting through the middle of the line, and he was off to the races for a 70-yard touchdown.
UConn’s offense was quiet in the third quarter, but they were still able to put points on the board courtesy of their special teams. Porter, wearing No. 43 after being forced to change jerseys, blocked Edward Phillipson’s punt and recovered it himself in the end zone to extend the lead to 28-3 with 6:44 to play in the third.
Watson and the UMass were able to find their way into the end zone in the fourth quarter. Watson, who returned after missing two games due to injury, connected with Curtis Kimmons IV in the flat for a 7-yard touchdown with 14:17 to play.
UConn answered with its lone offensive touchdown of the second half. The Huskies marched 75 yards on nine plays. A 14-yard pass to Porter and runs of 10 and seven yards from Trey Cornist set up Osborne’s 13-yard touchdown run that made it 35-9 with 5:05 to play.
UMass added a late touchdown on a 9-yard touchdown run from Justin Williams-Thomas.
The UConn defense held UMass to just 53 yards rushing on 22 carries, an average of 2.4 yards per carry and more than 100 yards below their season average. Watson was 22-of-38 for 205 yards through the air, while Joseph Griffin Jr. had four receptions for 77 yards.
The Huskies will visit Air Force next week in search of their fifth win. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m.
Scoring Summary
First-Quarter
UMass: 7:03 - Derek Morris 24-yard field goal. Drive 13 plays, 69 yards. TOP: 7:57. UMass 3,
UConn: 1:13 - Kalieb Osborne 5-yard passing touchdown to Shamar Porter. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards. TOP: 5:50. UConn 7, UMass 3
Second-Quarter
UConn: 1:36 - Kalieb Osborne 20-yard passing touchdown to JD Willoughby. Drive: 4 plays, 45 yards. TOP: 1:07. UConn 14, UMass 3
UConn: 1:04 - Cyncir Bowers 70-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 1 play, 70 yards. TOP: :12. UConn 21, UMass 3
Third-Quarter
UConn: 6:44 - Shamar Porter blocked punt recovered in end zone, UConn 28, UMass 3
Fourth-Quarter
UMass: 14:17 - Pop Watson 7-yard passing touchdown to Curtis Kimmons IV. Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards. TOP: 2:41. UConn 28, UMass 9
UConn: 3:04 - Kalieb Osborne 13-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards. TOP: 5:05. UConn 35, UMass 9
UMass: 1:04 - Justin Williams-Thomas 6-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards. TOP: 1:48. UConn 35, UMass 16
