UCONN’s Bowl Hopes Are Done

On Saturday afternoon, the UCONN Football Huskies lost to the Cincinnati Bearcats 26-23 on a last seconds field goal. The loss drops the Huskies to 4-7 on the season. UCONN had needed to win the last two games of the season to become bowl eligible.

In my non-expert opinion, the complexity of the game changed when UCONN kicker, Tony Ciaravino missed an extra point that would have put the Huskies up 8 instead of 7 with the miss. This would have forced the Bearcats to go for a two point conversion had they scored, which they did. UCONN then went 3 and out with some more questionable play calling from Coach Randy Edsall. Instead of trying to run the ball, he called the RB screen like he had been all game on 3rd and 3. It seemed like the Bearcats knew what was coming and had the RB well covered. UCONN was forced to punt and Cincy drove the ball down the field for the winning field goal.

Read more about the game and see photos from the game after the jump.

Notes and observations from the game:

Matt Bonislawski started at QB for the Huskies replacing an injured DJ Hernandez. DJ broke the same wrist that he did last year. In an emergency situation, he could have played but Darius Butler was listed as the 3rd string QB. Bones finished up the game 13 for 24 for 172 yards and 2 touchdown passes.
A couple of firsts for the Huskies. True Freshman Brad Kanuch scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 45 yard pass from Bones. Sophomore Anthony Barksdale scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 8 yard pass from Bones as well.
Donald Brown II finished the game with 80 yards rushing with 1 touchdown.
Donald Thomas, who was arrested earlier in the season, made his first start for the Huskies on the offensive line.
Matt Nuzie kicked a 45 yard field goal. Yes folks, he made one. Also during the week, Nuzie stated that he would like to try and make in the NFL.
Tony Ciaravino missed his first extra point of the season. He hit the left upright. The miss was huge as I stated earlier because it changed the complexity of the game.
The loss was UCONN’s first in November as a Div 1-A team.

Next up for the Huskies is Louisville on December 2nd at 12:00 noon. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Down below are pictures from the tailgate and the game.