University of Connecticut over Rutgers

Source Rutgers University media release  

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Special teams proved to be the difference maker as a blocked punt and kickoff return for a touchdown provided No. 16 Connecticut (8-1, 4-0 BIG EAST) the momentum to defeat Rutgers (5-4, 2-3 BIG EAST) 38-19 on Saturday night at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn.

Rutgers rolled up 511 yards of total offense, but was held to four field goals in the red zone against the Huskies.

The Huskies took an early two-point lead in the first quarter as a result of a miscue by the Scarlet Knight special teams. Senior Jeremy Ito\’s (Loma Linda, Calif.) first punt of the day was blocked by UConn WR D.J. Henderson and eventually rolled through the back of the end zone for a safety. The blocked punt was the first for a Rutgers opponent since 2005 when West Virginia achieved the feat, while the safety was the first in over five seasons when Miami recorded a safety against the Scarlet Knights in 2002.

Ray Rice finished with 116 yards rushing and 31 yards receiving.
Photo by Tom Ciszek/NJSportsPhoto

Connecticut extended its lead on the subsequent possession as the Huskies began their next drive on their own 47 yard line after the free kick. UConn went eight plays for 53 yards, capping it off with a two-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Lorenzen to Steve Brouse to make it 8-0 as Tony Ciaravino missed the extra point.

Rutgers was able to get on the board and cut into the Huskies\’ lead with an eight-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by Ito. Junior RB Ray Rice (New Rochelle, N.Y.) kicked off the possession with a 45 yard scamper through the left side – the fifth longest run of his career. The drive also featured a pair of runs, eight and nine yards, respectively by sophomore backup QB Jabu Lovelace (Tenafly, N.J.) as well as two completions from junior QB Mike Teel (Oakland, N.J.) to sophomore WR Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.) totaling 23 yards.

UConn added a field goal by Ciaravino and a touchdown from Lorenzen to Terrence Jeffers on its next two tries as the Huskies ended the first quarter with a 15-point advantage (18-3).

Ito connected on a 28-yard field goal to begin the second quarter, cutting the Huskies\’ lead to 12 with the score at 18-6, however, UConn responded on the following kickoff as Tyvon Branch returned the kick 97 yards for a touchdown. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown given up by the Scarlet Knights since last season when Jajuan Spillman of Louisville (11/9/06) ran a kick back 100 yards.

Rice, who carried the ball 16 times for 97 yards in the first half, was able to find the end zone with 4:24 left on the clock until halftime. Teel connected on a pair of passes during the drive, including a 19-yarder to Britt, while Lovelace split time with three carries for 16 yards. Rice concluded the 11-play, 70 yard march with a four-yard carry over the goal line to bring the Scarlet Knights to within 12 (25-13).

He ended the game with 116 yards on 21 carries, marking the 21st time in his illustrious 34-game career that he has gone over the century mark in rushing. Rice also moved into second in BIG EAST history with his 21 100-yard games.

RU forced UConn\’s first punt of the game on its next possession and took over on its own 19 yard line. Rutgers moved the ball 69 yards as Teel completed eight passes to five different receivers. The Scarlet Knights looked to cut further into the Huskies lead as Teel connected on a touchdown strike to junior WR Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.). Unfortunately for Rutgers, the score was nullified by an illegal shifting penalty and the drive ended with another field goal by Ito to make the score 25-16 at the half.

After a three-and-out for Connecticut to begin the second half, Rutgers bounced back with a 27-yard field goal by Ito. Lovelace helped orchestrate the drive as he carried four times for 21 yards. His pass attempt in the end zone to senior TE Chris Rudanovic (Sussex, N.J.) was broken up, leading to Ito\’s fourth field goal of the game. The four field goals tied his career high and was the fourth time in his career that he has nailed four field goals in a game.

UConn visited the end zone on its next possession to make it 32-19 as running back Dennis Brown capped off the seven-play, 74-yard drive with a 33 yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The Huskies tacked on six more points in the fourth a pair of field goals by Ciaravino, as they secured the 38-19 home-victory.

Rutgers received solid play from its two starting wide receivers as Underwood finished the game with 11 catches for 114 yards, while Britt added eight receptions for 122 yards. Underwood now has six 100- yard performances for his career – all coming this season – which is second-best in Rutgers history, just behind former Scarlet Knights Marco Battaglia and Tres Moses, who each recorded seven 100-yard games during their careers. For Britt, it marked his fourth 100-yard effort, good for sixth in the history books.

The Scarlet Knights return to action on Friday, Nov. 9, for its second-straight road contest. Rutgers will take on Army at 8:00 p.m. in West Point, N.Y. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2.