Huskies Outlast Temple 29-20 on Unbelievable Ending

Temple came into this game allowing 260 rushing yards per game. UConn was 11^th in the nation in rushing yards per game at 244 yards per game. So naturally, UConn struggled to get the run game going against Temple, and needed a last second goal line stand to hang on for a 29-20 victory. Nick Evers was out after sustaining an injury against Buffalo last week, and Joe Fagnano stepped in to start. Unlike his other start against Merrimack, this one didn’t go as well for him. 

The Huskies got the ball to start and moved downfield, on the strength of a couple passes to Jasaiah Gathings. Skyler Bell didn’t make his first appearance until several plays into the drive, curiously. The drive stalled at the Temple 23, after a 3^rd and 2 rush by Cam Edwards was deemed short of the first down marker, a disagreeable spot given by the officials. On 4^th and inches, Temple snuffed out the run, taking over on downs. The Owls would swiftly go three and out, capped off by a Jayden McDonald sack on 3^rd and long. A Husky three and out was avenged on the ensuing punt return, where WR John Neider forced the fumble, and it was recovered by the Huskies. The drive didn’t go anywhere, and Skyler Bell went down on the sideline after a catch, appearing to hurt his knee. He would return, but was clearly not 100%. Chris Freeman hit his sixth straight FG after missing his first three this season, giving the Huskies a 3-0 lead.

Temple still could not move the ball, going three and out again, and the Owls had -4 yards at the 5:28 mark of the first quarter. UConn would end up punting again, but not after another a 31 yard pass to TJ Sheffield. After getting their first couple of 1^st downs, Temple’s drive stalled at midfield, and punted as the first quarter came to a close. The Huskies were pinned back at their own 10 to start the second quarter, and a holding call on Chase Lundt negated a big Joe Fagnano run, and the Huskies were forced to punt again, giving the Owls the ball at their own 36. Temple punted again, after overthrowing Ahston Allen on a deep route. After another Husky three and out, Temple blocked the UConn punt in the end zone, giving the Owls a 7-3 lead with 10:32 to go in the first half. Sheffield caught a slant that would’ve been a first down, but fumbled behind the line, recovered by Louis Hansen, but forced UConn to punt again.

UConn would get the ball back, and put together a lengthy drive, that ended with another Freeman FG to cut the lead to one, at 7-6 with 1:45 remaining, a disappointing end to a 13 play, 53 yard drive. UConn was able to force a punt with 1:25, starting at their own 32 with two timeouts. There was some questionable play calling, with UConn running between the tackles on a one minute drill. Sheffield caught his 7^th pass of the half, a big 1^st down to the 10 with :25 on the clock and one timeout remaining. Some poor passes from Fagnano in the red zone, forced another FG, and the Huskies took a 9-7 lead going into the half, a very poor offensive performance. 

Halftime Stats:

Temple had their best drive of the game coming out of the half, a 10 play, 39 yard drive, that ended with a Maddux Trujillo 60 yard FG. Amazingly, that was not his season or career high, as he hit a 64 yarder in the win over Utah State. Brock threw for 28 yards on the drive, nearly matching his first half total of 36. UConn turned it over, as a Fagnano pass bounced off Sheffield’s arm and into the arms of Temple DB Jaylen Lewis. However, Trujillo missed the 32 yarder, and UConn took over at their own 20. The offense simply could not move the ball, and Fagnano fumbled deep in their own territory. Luckily for the Huskies, the defense wa stout all ballgame, and held them to a FG, but fans were emptying out, and the vibes were bad at Rentschler Field. However, Sheffield would redeem himself for the INT earlier by breaking off a 58 yard TD, and the Huskies had their first TD of the day, and a 16-13 lead. 

As Temple was marching downfield, Brock’s pass was tipped by Tui Faumuina-Brown into the hands of Malik Dixon-Williams, and UConn was in business at their own 47. Fagnano then threw another interception, this time it was his fault, as he tried to hit Shamar Porter streaking down the middle. Elijah Deravil returned the pick to the UConn 44. The Owls broke off their best run of the day, a 22 yarder up the gut from Terrez Worthy, then Brock ran it in from 8 yards out, and the Owls took the lead back at 20-16 with 9:52 remaining. UConn went three and out on the ensuing drive, giving them the ball at their own 23. Temple punted back to the Huskies, and on 3^rd and long, Fagnano escpaed the pressure and hit a wide open Brett Buckman for 32 yards, then hit Sheffield for another 9, and the Huskies were in business at the Temple 24 with 5:34 left. Durell Robinson would punch it in at the goal line, giving the Huskies the lead at 23-20, but Temple came roaring back, with a 21 yard pass and a 35 rush by Worthy getting down into the red zone. On 4^th and inches from the UConn 10, Temple opted to go for it, and they got the first down. The Owls ran the clock down all the way to the last seconds, and opted to go for it on 4^th and goal from the half yard line. Ball was jarred loose and Jordan Wright picked up and took it all the way back for a TD as time expired. After being on the other end of those situations, it was nice for UConn to catch a break. But nevertheless, that was not the effort or performance Jim Mora would want. The Huskies head into the bye at 4-2 for the first time since 2009.