It’s 35-17 but Syracuse is driving and perhaps about to score.
Syracuse coach Doug Marrone’s curious decision to decline a chop block penalty on UConn’s Mike Hicks led to UConn’s score at the start of the half.
During a 1-yard run by Andre Dixon on third-and-6 from the 26, Hicks was called for a 15-yard penalty. But instead of pushing UConn back to make it third-and-21 from the 41, Marrone declined the penalty and it was fourth-and-5 at the 25.
The Cuse coach probably thought UConn couldn’t/wouldn’t attempt a field goal from there (he was right) but the Huskies completed a pass to Brad Kanuch for a big first down instead. Zach Frazer hit Marcus Easley two plays later for a touchdown to make it 35-17.
Syracuse had a reasonable chance to score (kind of) but Ryan Lichtenstein missed a 48-yard field goal (with the wind) wide to the left with 3:06 left in the quarter.
– UConn LB Greg Lloyd left the game briefly in the third quarter with an injury. He came back on the very next snap.
– UConn SS Jerome Junior left the game after getting blasted by Syracuse RB Delone Carter on a run. He was replaced by Aaron Bagsby.
Junior eventually came back, too.
- Neill
