🎥 UConn vs. James Madison Postgame Media Availability (11.14.26)
UConn football notched a notable upset with a commanding victory over James Madison, who came into the game 8-2 after starting the season 7-0. The Huskies improved to 5-5 with two regular-season games remaining.
UConn got on the board first with a field goal after going 65 yards on its opening drive. James Madison reached the end zone on the next possession with a QB run by JC Evans, who converted a fourth-down at the UConn 20 and a 3rd & 4 for 19 yards near midfield through the air to keep the drive alive.
With the score 6-3, after JMU botched the snap on a fake FG attempt, Ky Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to make it 10-6 at the end of the first quarter.
The Huskies drove 67 yards on their next drive, getting almost half of that on the ground from Osborne, before a missed field goal ended the threat.
JMU found the end zone again to re-take the lead, aided by a pass interference and a roughing-the-passer penalty that negated an interception. Evans found WR Braeden Wisloski for a 17-yard score to put the visitors back up, 13-10.
UConn responded quickly as Osborne found Shamar Porter wide open deep up the left sideline for a 67-yard touchdown to regain the lead, 17-13. A Hayden Pegg interception with time winding down in the half gave UConn one more chance with 0:32 seconds left. A 36-yard Osborne run set up a Mike Baker field goal to make it 20-13 at halftime.
The second half started slowly, with three punts before a UConn touchdown drive. After three third-down conversions, Osborne found Cam Abshire with a 51-yard bomb on 3rd & 19. Bowers ran in the touchdown from nine yards out to make it 26-13 as they missed the extra point.
A JMU field goal made it 26-16, but the Huskies were ready to finish strong on this day. Osborne found JD Willoughby for a 35-yard TD to make it 33-16. After stopping the Dukes on fourth down, another TD drive ended with a Bowers TD. The two teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter to get us to our final score as Bowers got his third TD of the day.
Next up, the Huskies host Old Dominion for their third straight home game and second-to-last game of the season. The contest kicks off at 3:30 p.m. from Rentschler Field.
Scoring Summary
First-Quarter
UConn: 9:21 - Jack O’Connor 28-yard field goal. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards. TOP: 5:39. UConn 3, JMU 0
JMU: 2:24 - JC Evans 1-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 14 plays, 73 yards. TOP: 6:53. JMU 6, UConn 3
UConn: 2:09 - Ky Wilson 100-yard kickoff return touchdown, UConn 10, JMU 6
Second-Quarter
JMU: 2:02 - JC Evans 16-yard passing touchdown to Braeden Wisloski. Drive: 8 plays, 78 yards. TOP: 4:27. JMU 13, UConn 10
UConn: 1:30 - Kalieb Osborne 67-yard passing touchdown to Shamar Porter. Drive: 3 plays, 84 yards. TOP: :28. UConn 17, JMU 13
UConn: 0:06 - Mike Baker 21-yard field goal. Drive: 3 plays, 56 yards. TOP: :32. UConn 20, JMU 13
Third-Quarter
UConn: 0:55 - Cyncir Bowers 9-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards. TOP: 5:14. UConn 26, JMU 13
Fourth-Quarter
JMU: 13:12 - Morgan Suarez 36-yard field goal. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards. TOP: 2:43. UConn 26, JMU 16
UConn: 10:42 - Kalieb Osborne 35-yard passing touchdown to JD Willoughby. Drive: 6 plays, 97 yards. TOP: 2:24. UConn 33, JMU 16
UConn: 5:44 - Kalieb Osborne 2-yard passing touchdown to Cyncir Bowers. Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards. TOP: 3:24. UConn 39, JMU 16
JMU: 3:53 - JC Evans 3-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 56 yards. TOP: 1:45. UConn 39, JMU 22
UConn: 2:39 - Cyncir Bowers 17-yard rushing touchdown. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards. TOP: 1:13. UConn 46, JMU 22
Highlights
