Whether or not the UConn Huskies actually deserved the win today, they persevered through Tropical Storm Hanna, 2 Tyler Lorenzen turnovers and 3 missed field goals by Tony Ciaravino to come back and beat the Temple Owls 12-9 in overtime in front of 17,194 rain soaked fans at Lincoln Financial Field.
If it wasn’t for the running of Donald Brown this afternoon, the Huskies probably wouldn’t have even had a chance to win the game as the Owls defense didn’t have an answer for Brown. Tyler Lorenzen had another horrible game as quarterback and you have to wonder whether or not the weather was a factor.
The rain started in the early in the first half and stopped at one point late in the game. Then as the game was winding down and heading to overtime, the heavens opened up again. The game wasn’t as exciting as most people probably would have liked especially when both teams spent a majority of the second half running the ball.
The only positive thing I can take from this game besides Brown’s running is the fact that no matter what happened, it’s still a W in the win column.
Scoring:
1st quarter
TEM – Jake Brownell 22-yard field goal – Temple 3 UConn 0
2nd quarter
TEM – Jake Brownell 41-yard field goal – Temple 6 UConn 0
3rd quarter
None
4th quarter
CON – Tony Ciaravino 36-yard field goal – Temple 6 UConn 3
CON – Tony Ciaravino 37-yard field goal – Temple 6 UConn 6
Overtime –
TEM – Jake Brownell 27-yard field goal – Temple 9 UConn 6
Donald Brown comes across the goal line with the winning touchdown for the Huskies in overtime.
CON – Donald Brown 7-yard run – UConn 12 Temple 9
Offensive Player of the Game:
Donald Brown had 36 carries for a career-high 214 yards and 1 touchdown. He was pretty much the only offense UConn had.
Defensive Player of the Game:
Scott Lutrus had 9 solo tackles and 3 assisted tackles for a game-high total of 12.
Turning Point(s) of the Game:
Temple head coach Al Golden decides to go for it on his own 35 late in the 4th qtr on 4th and 1. The UConn defense comes up with a big stop. The Huskies weren’t able to put any points up on the board though.
Temple wide receiver Dy’Onne Crudup called for a holding penalty when Travis Shelton had gotten the ball down to the UConn 9 yard line in overtime. UConn defense held strong after that to allow only a field goal
Offensive Notes:
Tyler Lorenzen breaks free from a sack to run for a 9-yard gain in the 1st qtr.
Lorenzen to Steve Brouse for a 14-yard gain in the 1st qtr.
Lorenzen was picked off on a deflected pass off the hands of Donald Brown in the 1st qtr.
Brown breaks open a run of 18-yards in the 1st qtr.
Lorenzen runs a QB keeper for 20 yards into Temple territory in the 1st qtr.
Tyler Lorenzen fumbles just before crossing the goal line.
Lorenzen fumbles ball at goal line recovered by Temple in end zone for a touchback in 1st qtr. Play was reviewed and upheld.
Brown busts a 13-yard run in the 2nd qtr.
Brown runs for 19-yards and then 13-yards on consecutive plays in the 3rd qtr.
Brown has rushes of 10-yards, 8-yards and 7-yards in overtime on 3 straight plays.
Defensive Notes:
Greg Lloyd sacks Temple QB Adam DiMichele for a 7-yard loss in the 1st qtr.
Marcus Campbell has a nice pass deflection on a DiMichele pass in the 1st qtr.
Jasper Howard called for pass interference in the 1st qtr.
Lawrence Wilson picks off a tipped pass in the 2nd qtr.
Dahna Deleston picks off a tipped pass in the 2nd qtr.
Lloyd and Julius Williams team up to stop Temple on a 3rd and 1.
Defense stops Temple on 4th and 1at Temple’s 34-yard line with just over 4 minutes to go in the game. Review of the play was upheld.
Kendall Reyes was called for a personal foul when he shoved DiMichele out of bounds in the overtime.
Special Teams Notes:
Jasper Howard returns a punt 20 yards in the 2nd qtr.
Tony Ciaravino was just 2-for-5 on field goal attempts.
Tony Ciaravino misses a 34-yard field goal in the 2nd qtr.
Ciaravino 44-yard field goal attempt hits upright and bounces out for a missed field goal.
Ciaravino 47-yard field goal attempt is wide left in 4th qtr.
Injuries:
Evan Cooper of Temple left the field on a stretcher with an apparent knee injury in the 2nd qtr.
Andre Dixon came on for one play and walked off the field limping after a 4-yard run. He didn’t return to action.
Alex Joseph of Temple was shaken up in the 4th quarter with an unknown injury.
Andre Neblett of Temple was shaken up in the 4th quarter with an unknown injury.
Officials:
The referees were not a factor in the game. The two calls that went to replay were both upheld.
Game Notes:
Lindsey Witten didn’t travel with team due to his knee injury suffered in last week’s game against Hofstra.
Lorenzen was 10-of-22 for 86 yards with an interception. He did have 75 yards rushing in the game.
Temple’s 22-yard field goal in the first quarter marked the first points UConn has allowed in the opening quarter since Nov. 24, 2007 at West Virginia.
Wilson’s interception was the second of his career at UConn.
Brown has rushed for over 100 yards 8 times and 200 yards twice in his UConn career.
The Huskies are 3-1 in overtime games dating back to the move to Division 1.
The Huskies were held scoreless for the first time in the first half since a 21-17 win over Louisville last season. They hadn’t been held scoreless in 3 quarters since November 2005 against Pittsburgh.
UConn’s first 5 possessions ended with an interception, a fumble, 2 missed field goals and a punt.
Ciaravino missed only 5 field goals all of last season. He had 3 misses in the game today.
Big East Games and Results:
Tennessee Tech @ Louisville, 3:30 PM
Akron @ Syracuse, 3:30 PM
Cincinnati @ Oklahoma, 3:30 PM
West Virginia @ East Carolina, 4:30 PM
Buffalo @ Pittsburgh, 6:00 PM
South Florida @ Central Florida, 7:00 PM
Things to Work On:
The obvious thing is no matter how bad the weather was, Tony Ciaravino needs to work on his kicking in practice this week. Tyler Lorenzen needs to improve at quarterback or it could be a long season for the Huskies. He threw a few passes that were zipped when he should have thrown a touch pass and vice versa. The defense needs to work on containing the quarterback. Temple QB Adam DiMichele led the Owls with 60 yards rushing.
Up Next:
The Huskies return home to Rentschler Field next Saturday to take on the Virginia Cavaliers. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM and the game will be televised on ESPNU.
