Connecticut 38 Cincinnati 17
The hard part of the blogging game is obviously writing recaps of games that you really don't want to write about. That problem is magnified when there is a game that you really want to write about because that game was awesome and the first game was not. That's the way the cookie crumbles today. Since the football game happened at 12 and was bad, I'll write about that first. Let's not waste time with pre-game fodder, and get right into the suck. Shout out to the AP via the Enquirer for the photos.
The Huskies started off with the ball. A block in the back pushed their starting ground to the 15, and they didn't recover. On 3-7, Zach Frazer was sacked by Brandon Mills. Cole Wagner's punt into a horrible wind only gained 22 yards, meaning UC started at the UConn 32. The Bearcats hit the ground, with runs by Zach Collaros for 6, and Isaiah Pead for 3. A 3-1 run with Collaros was stopped by Kendall Reyes for a 5 yard loss. Facing 4-6 at the UConn 28, Butch Jones made a curious decision. Instead of getting points with Jake Rogers, he decided to go for it. Collaros passed to Ben Guidugli, who only got 5 yards. Turnover on downs.
The Huskies took over at the 23, and decided that Jordan Todman is pretty good, and should get the ball. Todman ran for 4 on first down. After a Cincinnati offsides, Todman busted a run 38 yards to the UC 30 where Drew Frey pushed him out of bounds. Todman had 2 carries for 5 yards, but on third down his back up, Robbie Frey, ran for 9 yards to convert. On first down from the 16, Frazer threw a pass into the flat after some play action to a wide open Anthony Sherman, who walked in for the first score of his career. Connecticut 7-0.
Due to the strong wind, UConn squib kicked, allowing John Goebel to return the ball 20 yards to the UConn 47. Collaros was incomplete on his first two throws, but on 3-10 he hit Guidugli for 9. UC went for another 4th, but called a Collaros run, which gained 5 yards. After a 3 yard run by Pead and an incomplete pass, Collaros scrambled for 7 yards and a first down. After an incompletion, Collaros hit Anthony McClung for 8 yards. But, he would go incomplete on 3rd down, bringing in Rogers to hit a 33 yard field goal. Connecticut 7-3.
Jake Rogers proceeded to kick the ball out of bounds, letting UConn start at the 40. The Bearcats defense held them to 3 and out, taking over at the 28. Collaros fired to McClung for 6 on first down. After a Pead loss put UC in 3-5, Collaros connected with Armon Binns for 13 yards and a first down. Another Pead inside run went nowhere. UC decided to go screen to Anthony McClung. The only problem? Lawrence Wilson was keen on the play, and crushed McClung, causing a fumble that Alex Polito recovered at the 47.
UConn immediately went to the ground game. Todman ran for 9, 2, 4, and 3 before he got hurt and Frey ran for 4 and 3. UConn faced a 3-7 after the last Frey run though, because there was an incompletion before the 3 yard run. The pass Frazer threw was incomplete, but he was roughed by Dan Giordano. UConn got new life at the 11. Frey ran for 5, and then capped it off by running for 6 and the score. Turnover, costly penalty, you know the drill. Connecticut 14-3.
The Bearcats started at the 22. Collaros went incomplete, but followed with a 9 yard pass to Binns and a draw for a first down. He hit McClung for 7, and Binns for 9 to move the chains. Pead got a 1 yard run before Collaros threw deep for McClung, who hauled in a 24 yarder to the UConn 27. Collaros went back to Binns for 6, Pead ran for 3, and once again Collaros kept the third down and short call. From the 15, Collaros was pressured. He circled to his left, and threw a dart to a wide open Binns in the end zone. It was a great play by Collaros. Cincinnati was back in it. Connecticut 14-10.
The Huskies started at the 43, but got pushed back to the 33 on a hold on first down. The Huskies faced 3-16, but Frazer hit Michael Smith for 17, and into UC territory. After a 3 yard run by Frey, Frazer found an open Dwayne Difton for 21 yards to the 22. UConn was forced into another 3-long, but Frazer ran 14 yards to move the sticks. Frey got 2 on first down, but a holding penalty moved UConn back to the 18. Frazer dumped to Frey for 11 yards, but was incomplete on 3rd down, leading to a Dave Teggart 24 yard field goal. Connecticut 17-10.
Anthony McClung got a horrible kick return, getting only to the 18. That didn't matter though, because the UC offense started clicking. Pead got 2, Collaros hit Guidugli for 11, Pead ran for 4, 8 and caught a 16 yard pass, Woods caught a 6 yarder, Binns a 14, Goebel ran for 4, and Bones Barnett caught a 8 yard pass. UC had the ball at the UConn 9 in no time. On first and goal, Collaros was nearly picked off. On second and goal, a quick slant was batted at the line, and caught off the deflection by Kendall Reyes, who flew up the sideline for a touchdown. Except Lawrence Wilson was called for a questionable block in the back at the 5, meaning the TD didn't count and UConn had to start at the 15. UConn got a short run by Frey, followed by an incomplete pass. Frazer and Ryan Griffin connected for 7 yards, leaving a tough decision on 4-1. UConn went for it. Todman bulled his way for 5 yards, and a first down. UConn called their last time out of the half after the run, and had only 9 seconds. The play they went with took a lot of balls, a halfback option pass. Todman didn't throw it, he just bounced left and walked into the end zone. Connecticut 24-10.
UC started half the second with the ball at the 35. Collaros hit Ben for 9 yards, and after a nothing run from Pead, converted another 3rd and short. But, he went incomplete, sacked by Jesse Joseph and incomplete again leading to a punt to the 16. UConn ran Todman for 5, 6, and 3 before Frazer threw incomplete. But, he hit Griffin for 9 to convert the 3rd. Todman ran for 11 yards over the next two plays, leading to Frazer hitting Michael Smith for 12. With the ball at the 39, the UC defense stiffened. A 1 yard run, an incompletion and a sack by Brandon Mills forced a punt to the 21. UC went 3 and out, with a loss by Pead, incompletion, and a QB draw by Collaros. UConn got a 7 yard return, with an illegal formation by UC to start at the UC 39. Todman took the first play 16 yards to the 23. On 2nd down though, Frazer got greedy and went deep, only UC was playing great coverage, and Drew Frey ran over to pick off the pass. There was some question if he was out at the 1 or in the end zone, but the officials ruled end zone, and UC got a touchback.
Zach Collaros struggled up to this point, but put together another strong drive. After an incompletion, he hit Guidugli for 6, Woods for 12, Binns for 15 and Pead for 20. But, he had to throw away back to back passes, and a third down pass was broken up. Jake Rogers 44 yard field goal was no good the second it left his foot. UConn stayed on the ground as we ended the third. Todman went for 6, 9, 5, Frey lost 3, Todman 4, Frey -1, Todman -1, and UConn ended it with an incompletion. The punt was to the 20. Collaros threw incomplete on first down, but made up for it by running for 19 on second. He then was picked off by Mike Lang at the UConn 33 when he forced a deep ball. Todman ran for 4 on first down, followed by a 79 yard Frazer pass. A 15 yard penalty on the next play attempt pushed UConn back to 1-25. Frazer got 14 on a scramble, and Todman 5, but a 3rd down pass was incomplete. The punt went to the UC 12.
Collaros went incomplete on first and second down, before hitting Binns for 15. After another incompletion, he ran for 31 to the UConn 42. He went to Binns again for 11. He tried to go to Binns again, but drew a pass interference on Dwayne Gratz. He went to Binns again, and drew a questionable PI on Gratz. Collaros ran for 4. He decided to throw to Binns again, and this time drew a terrible PI call on Gratz, when it looked like the official was expecting contact. Collaros punched it on on a draw from 3 yards out, and we had a game. Connecticut 24-17.
Remember when I said we had a game? UCoon took the squib kick 42 yards all the way to the UC 36. Todman caught a 2 yard pass, and ran for 2 to set up 3-6. Frazer hit Isiah Moore for 13 to convert. Todman took the next play to the 1, and punched it on the next score. Connecticut 31-17.
UC started at the 20, but didn't stay long, as Collaros went deep up the left sideline to Barnett, who made a great catch for 22. Collaros ran for 4 and was incomplete, leading to 3-6. Collaros threw another interception, this time to Blidi Wrey-Wilson,, who went 53 yards to the UC 7. Todman lost 3 on first down, and got 1 on second. But, he would power it in from 9 yards out. Connecticut 38-17. Collaros threw another INT on the next drive, and that was game.
Cincinnati had 399 yards, 288 passing, were 7-14 on 3rd down, 1-2 on 4th, but had 5 turnovers. Zach Collaros was horrible again on the road. He was 26-50-288-1 TD-4 INTs. He ran for a team high 84 yards. Isaiah Pead had 11-23 on the ground, and 36 in the air. Armon Binns had 9-106-1 TD. He also went over 1,000 yards on the season, becoming the 8th Bearcat to do so.
UConn had 357 yards, 236 rushing, were 9-16 on third and 1-1 on 4th. They had 1 turnover. Zach Frazer was 11-24-121-1 TD-1 INT. Jordan Todman had 31-175-3 TDs. Robbie Frey had 15-48-1 TD.
Overall, it was another terrible game by the UC Bearcats. This team can't win on the road. Zach Collaros has thrown 8 INTs in 3 Big East road games. Who would have seen that coming? Once again, Isaiah Pead had nothing going on the ground. Only 11 carries, and 13 touches overall. That's not good enough. He did have this cool hurdle
But that was about it. If it's not one thing, it's another with this team. It seems like the football season has gone by incredibly quick, except for UC. It seems their season has dragged on forever. That's what losing does.
