Written by Garin Turner
#21 USF (7-0, 3-0 AAC) barely escaped a disastrous loss as they held on to defeat UConn (1-6, 0-4 AAC) 38-30. The game was even at halftime 7-7 before both teams got into a shootout. USF ran for a total of 346 yards and four touchdowns to help secure the win. At one point, USF were up 31-14 before UConn scored 16 points in the fourth quarter to nearly pull off the upset.
The win matches the best start in school history.
Jonny Ford had seven carries for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Ford found the end zone on runs of 15, 15, and 43 yards. Jordan Cronkrite, the nation’s third leading rusher, ran 16 times for 103 yards and quarterback Blake Barnett rushed 10 times for 78 yards and a score. He also was 20/28 for 265 yards and a touchdown in the air.
UConn had equal success on the ground rushing for a total 322 yards on 51 carries and four scores. Quarterback David Pindell ran 28 times for197 yards and two scores. Kevin Mensah also scored twice on 19 carries and 120 yards. “If we play hard and give that kind of effort, we have a chance. We still have a lot of work to do but I hope we can build on this,” UConn head coach Randy Edsall said.
Neither team did well converting on third down. USF were 4-11 and UConn 3-11. USF had nine penalties for 90 yards. They were also able to overcome three turnovers and UConn controlling the ball 34:19 to 25:41. Barnett threw interceptions on USF’s first two possessions. “We’re a better team than that,” USF head coach Charlie Strong said. This is the first game that UConn has held an opponent to under 49 points.
