UConn 28, Syracuse 17 halfway through a windy affair at Rentschler.
It was a four-point game before some late heroics from the home team.
An unbelievable catch from WR Marcus Ealsey (I guess it’s not unbelievable anymore…he’s turning into a terrific offensive weapon) set the Huskies up for a late touchdown. The Stratford native’s 42-yard reception from Zach Frazer set the Huskies up with a first-and-goal at the 9 with 16 seconds left in the half.
Andre Dixon scored on a 1-yard run that was technically the next play (though penalties by the Orange helped a lot).
Syracuse pulled within four early in the second quarter on a Ryan Nassib-to-Mike Owen 4-yard touchdown pass. The score was set up, however, by a 36-yard Greg Paulus-to-Averin Collier screen pass.
But an Orange turnover, a fumbled pitch from Nassib to Delone Carter, set the Huskies up in Syracuse territory. On the second play of the ensuing UConn drive Jordan Todman ran 37 yards up the middle for a touchdown to make it 21-10.
Todman passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark with his TD run (which ended with a flip of the ball to the official, it should be noted, not any kind of organized celebration).
The Orange didn’t fold, however, putting together another drive with the wind that mixed the pass and run nicely and ended with a Paulus 2-yard touchdown pass to Alec Lemon.
- Neill
