Pindell Owns Rushing Record
QB Breaks Mark Set In 1967
EAST HARTFORD – David Pindell added his name to the UConn football record books Saturday, setting a single-season mark for rushing yards by a quarterback.
Pindell entered Saturday’s game against UMass 12 yards behind Pete Petrillo’s program record of 676, set in 1967. He surpassed that total on a firstdown run in the second quarter, on his way to 120 yards rushing on the day.
“I think it’s pretty cool, coming in here and breaking a record,” Pindell said after UConn’s 22-17 loss. “Obviously getting a win is the biggest thing for us, but when it’s all said and done, I felt like if I broke a record it must mean I’m doing something special.”
The ever-humble Pindell made sure to credit his offensive coordinator, as well as the players around him.
“Coach [John] Dunn is part of that and the offensive line and the receivers and all of them,” Pindell said. “I couldn’t have done that without them, so I credit them.”
Pindell has made plays with his legs all season, rushing for 157 yards against UCF, 137 against Rhode Island and 197 last week against South Florida. He has eight rushing touchdowns on the year to go along with nine passing scores.
Pindell arrived at UConn last season after two seasons at Lackawanna Community College. He racked up 289 rushing yards in limited playing time in 2017, then assumed the starting role this fall.
With nearly 700 rushing yards this season, Pindell, a senior, now stands just shy of 1,000 for his career. Petrillo holds the Huskies’ career quarterback rushing record as well, with 1,508 yards over three seasons.
Pindell said this week that he has always enjoyed rushing the ball, dating back to his days as a kid watching Michael Vick play on TV.
“When I first started playing, I always wanted to run the ball because I watched Michael Vick and that was my idol,” Pindell said. “I just wanted to be like him. I used to just want to run the ball. When I actually learned how to play the quarterback position, I tried to become a better passer.”
Murphy Gets Hands On The Ball
Defensive tackle Kevin Murphy was asked after the game Saturday when he had last held the ball during a game before his third-quarter interception Saturday.
He had to think for a minute. “Shoot, probably freshman year, I was a tight end in high school,” Murphy said. “Played Y [receiver] a little bit. And then eighth grade I was a fullback. I had 11 touchdowns back home. Those were the good old days. I was reminiscing a little out there.”
So what was going through his mind when UMass quarterback through the ball straight at him from only a few feet away Saturday?
“I felt that ball right away. It was just so slick,” he said. “It was just like, ‘You better get both hands on the ball and to make sure the offense gets that thing to go down there and score.’”
Tarbutt Hits Big Kick Amid Trying Season
Murphy’s interception set up a 41-yard field goal from Michael Tarbutt that must have felt awfully gratifying for the junior kicker.
Despite converting on two of his three field goals and all of his extra-point attempts this season, Tarbutt has faded in and out of the coaches’ good graces, as Randy Edsall and company have demanded more consistency in practice. Earlier this month, he missed a game due to a back injury, allowing freshman Clayton Harris to seize his starting job
Tarbutt said Saturday that after all the ups and downs, he was glad to convert on a length kick, which gave UConn a 17-9 lead early in the fourth quarter.
“It was a pretty big kick at the time,” Tarbutt said. “It was a great ball, felt really good, right down the middle. So I was pretty excited.”
Tarbutt’s kick was especially impressive considering the weather conditions at Rentschler Field, where wind and rain forced both teams to run the ball more than usual on offense.