UConn Dominates Buffalo with a 47-3 Victory

Coming off a big 48-14 win against FAU last Saturday night, the Huskies were looking for a repeat performance against the stout Buffalo Bulls defense. They most certainly delivered, winning 47-3 before an announced crowd of 20,347 at Rentschler Field. 

The Huskies’ defense picked up where they left off last week against FAU forcing a three-and-out on the Bulls’ opening drive. UConn drove downfield on the strength of its running game, but Evers threw for 27 yards on the drive, which ultimately stalled at the 11. Chris Freeman’s 26-yard FG gave them the lead at 3-0. Buffalo got their first 1^st down of the game on the ensuing drive but ultimately punted, as QB CJ Ogbanna’s pass to a wide open Victor Snow bounced off his chest and hands. After a late hit call on Nick Evers, Cam Edwards broke off a big run to the left side - a 43-yarder to the house-extending the lead to 10-0. The defense forced another punt, getting the ball back with 2:28 to go in the first quarter. UConn went three-and-out after an Ezeriah Anderson catch was overturned. A 21-yard punt gave the Bulls the ball in plus territory, but the UConn line stopped them on 4^th and 1 to end the first quarter. 

UConn’s drive continued into the 2^nd quarter, but again stalled in the red zone, and Freeman hit a 39-yarder, his fourth straight made FG since missing his first three attempts this season. UConn’s defense remained stout, but Evers took a shot to the head on a run play and was taken out of the game, forcing backup Joe Fagnano into action for the first time since the Merrimack game. He missed a couple open receivers-one in the end zone; the other would most likely have been a TD, barring TJ Sheffield tripping on his own two feet or something. The Huskies still led 16-0 with about five to go in the first half. Buffalo got backed up to their own end zone with some pre-snap penalties and was forced to punt from the back of the end zone, getting a great bounce to the UConn 36. Fagnano eventually hit Skyler Bell for the 40-yard TD pass, and the Huskies were up 23-0 with 1:13 to go. The Bulls would get a FG after some soft defense by the Huskies, a drive of 46 yards, which was more yards than the Bulls had the entire game up until that point, and it was 23-3 at the half. 

Halftime Stats:

UConn received the ball to start the second half, and Fagnano hit Bell again along the sideline, who then used his speed to simply outrun the Buffalo defense for a 70-yard TD pass, and after just :48, UConn extended their lead to 30-3. UConn would get the ball back after a three-and-out, accented by Tui Faumuina-Brown’s first sack of the game. Fagnano underthrew Bell on a deep ball just a smidge that would’ve been his third TD of the game, and they were forced to punt from Buffalo territory. Another punt by Connor Stutz backed up the Bulls, and UB punted from their own 10. Fagnano hit-who else?- but Bell for a 12-yard TD pass on the slant, and the rout was on at 37-3. 

Mel Brown opened the 4^th quarter with a 23-yard TD run-just his fifth carry of the afternoon to lead by 41. From there, the benches were emptied again, just like last week. And like last week, it’s a much better feeling emptying the benches when you’re winning by a bunch. And just like that, after a 43-point loss to start the season, the UConn Huskies looked like a good football team. 

Up Next: Temple 3:30 CBSSN

Final Stats: