The Result
The biggest win in UConn football history came today as they beat South Florida 22-15 at a soggy Rentschler Field. This was their first ever win over a ranked opponent and puts them at 7-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big East. The win should lock up a bowl bid for the Huskies and should also vault them into the Top 25.
UConn was able to slow USF’s star Matt Groethe in the first half and held on for dear life in the second half. They got some big defensive plays, including a Robert McClain interception in the end zone to prevent a touchdown. Andre Dixon was able to pound the ball and tire out the Bulls’ defense.
Scoring Plays
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Score |
| (11) So Florida | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 15 |
| Connecticut | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
1st Quarter
- CON – Ciaravino 22-yard field goal – 3-0 UConn
2nd Quarter
- CON – Lorenzen 3-yard pass to Brouse – kick failed – 9-0 UConn
- CON – Lutrus 23-yard interception return – kick good – 16-0 UConn
3rd Quarter
- USF – Blocked punt in end zone recovered by UConn for safety – 16-2 UConn
- USF – Groethe 10-yard run – kick good – 16-9 UConn
- CON – Ciaravino 27-yard field goal – 19-9 UConn
4th Quarter
- USF – Alvarado 47-yard field goal – 19-12 UConn
- USF – Alvarado 27-yard field goal – 19-15 UConn
- CON – Ciaravino 20-yard field goal – 22-15 UConn
Offensive Player of the Game
The offensive player of the game was Andre Dixon. Dixon ran for 167 yards and had 3 receptions for 42 yards.
Defensive Player of the Game
The defensive player of the game was Scott Lutrus. He had 8 tackles and returned an interception 23-yards for a touchdown.
Turning Point(s) of the Game
The Lutrus interception return for a touchdown to put the Huskies up 16-0.
The blocked punt by USF put the Bulls on the board. They then scored a touchdown after the free kick.
Tyvon Branch’s 27-yard kick off return gave UConn the ball with good field position. They drove down and kicked a field goal.
Offensive Notes
Andre Dixon had 53-yards rushing on UCONN’s opening drive.
Tyler Lorenzen threw an interception on a tipped pass in the 1st.
Poor snap by the UConn center past Lorenzen lost UConn 14-yards. Dixon got them all back plus with a 27-yard reception.
On 3rd and 5 at the USF 17 yard line, Lorenzen hit Donald Brown for a 14-yard pass to set up first and goal at the USF 3. UConn scored on the next play.
Dixon busted open a 25-yard run on 1st down.
On 2nd and 1, Groethe hit his tight end Cedric Hill for 35-yards.
Groethe ran one for 53-yards and followed it with a 10-yard TD run.
On 3rd down at the UConn 24-yard line, Groethe ran one for 11-yards.
A holding call on USF negated a touchdown run by Cecil Ford.
Hill dropped a touchdown pass in the end zone.
An illegal procedure call on Terence Jeffers cost the Huskies a shot to put the game away in the 4th. They settled for a field goal.
On 3rd and 3, Ben Williams ripped off a 22-yard run to the UConn 32-yard line.
Defensive Notes
Poor tackling by UConn allowed Jamar Thomas to bust open a 54-yard run in the 1st qtr.
USF’s Mike Jenkins was called for a pass interference call on a ball thrown to UConn’s Brad Kanuch in the 1st.
Matt Groethe was picked off by UConn linebacker Scott Lutrus who returned it 23-yards for a touchdown.Lutrus forced Groethe out of bounds on a 3rd and long run to force a punt.
Julius Williams forced Groethe to throw an incomplete pass on 3rd and 6 at UConn’s 39-yard line to start the 3rd qtr. They ended up punting.
George Selvie sacked Lorenzen for a 13-yard loss.
Robert McClain picked off a Groethe pass in the end zone.
On the first play after the interception, Selvie sacked Lorenzen for a 4-yard loss. Aaron Harris followed that with an 11-yard sack.
USF had 1st and goal at UConn’s 2-yard line and UConn’s defense held them to a field goal.
Tony Brown sacked Groethe for a 5-yard loss. It was UConn’s first sack of the day.
Greg Robinson, Jr. sacked Groethe for a 10-yard loss on 3rd and goal.
UConn stopped USF on 4th and goal to complete the win.
Special Teams Notes
USF’s kicker Delbe Alvarado missed a 26-yard field goal wide-right in the 1st qtr. He missed his second kick from 46-yards wide-left in the 1st qtr.
UConn’s Lou Allen was called for a late hit on a Marcus Edwards punt return in the 1st qtr.
Poor snap by UConn on an extra point in 2nd qtr caused UConn to not get the kick off.
USF called for illegal block on kickoff return in the 2nd qtr.
Larry Taylor made the proper fair catch call on a punt in the 2nd qtr.
Ciaravino missed a 50-yard field goal attempt at the end of the 2nd qtr.
USF’s Marcus Edwards fumbled a Desi Cullen 47-yard punt but recovered it in the 3rd qtr.
Jerome Murphy blocked a Cullen punt in the end zone and it was recovered by a UConn player for a safety.
Tyvon Branch returned a short kickoff 27 yards into USF territory.
Coaching Decisions
USF head coach Jim Leavitt had a 4th and 1 in the 1st qtr and went for it. They were called for illegal procedure.
USF had 4th and 2 from UConn’s 39-yard line and called a timeout. After the timeout, Alvarado punted the ball out of the end zone.
USF had 4th and 7 from UConn’s 19-yard line in with 2:46 left in the game and went for it. He completed a 9-yard pass for a first down.
Injuries
2nd qtr- USF’s Allen Ray was shaken up and walked off the field under his own power. He did return.
2nd qtr – USF’s Amarri Jackson injured his knee and was carried off the field. He didn’t return.
3rd qtr – USF’s Richard Clebert injured his knee and walked off under his own power.
3rd qtr – USF’s Carlton Williams was trying to get to the sideline and collapsed. It looked as though he took a blow to the head on a tackle.
The Officials
The officials blew dead a Groethe incomplete pass when it looked like the ball came out before his arm went in motion. Because it was ruled dead, it couldn’t go to the review booth. Other than that, the officials made the proper calls and weren’t really a factor.
Game Notes
This was Randy Edsall’s 100th game (47-52) as UConn’s head football coach.
This was UConn’s second straight game played in wet and rainy conditions.
The Cabela’s parking lot was more full this week then it was for the grand opening.
USF head coach Jim Leavitt was seen running wind sprints on the field before the game.
After UConn’s field goal in the 1st qtr, it started to pour at Rentschler Field. It stopped towards the end of the quarter.
Tyler Lorenzen came into the game having thrown only 3 interceptions all season.
UConn’s defense is ranked 6th in the nation.
USF’s George Selvie came into the game leading Div I with 11.5 sacks.
UConn’s redshirt freshman linebacker Scott Lutrus leads all linebackers in the country with 4 interceptions.
Representatives from the Sun Bowl were at the game.
Andre Dixon had over 100 yards rushing in the first half. He finished with 167 yards.
Groethe had only 40 yards passing in the first half. He finished with 189 yards passing and 146 yards rushing.
For the first time in the history of Rentschler Field, the crowd was actually able to get on the field and celebrate with the team.
UCONN previously was 0-10 against ranked opponents.
Big East Games and Results
Louisville 24 Pittsburgh 17
West Virginia 31 Rutgers 3
Next Week’s Opponent
UConn will host Rutgers next Saturday night at 7:15 PM at Rentschler Field.
