Pirates run all over Huskies
distant last in FBS in points and yards allowed per game before Saturday night. But in giving up 55 points to a 2-7 team that had previously averaged only 23.2, UConn’s young D (six freshman starters Saturday) may have reached a new low.
UConn stands 1-10 on the year (0-7 in American Athletic Conference play), in danger of being the first team in more than two decades to allow 50 points per game for an entire season.
“You can’t fix this right now,” coach Randy Edsall said after the game. “People might not want to hear it, but we’re playing with guys who shouldn’t even be playing. They aren’t big enough, aren’t strong enough, aren’t fast enough. I said that when I came in. And I said it doesn’t get fixed during the season.
“It is frustrating,” he continued. “But I know this: There are only [some] things you can fix during the season, and you try to, but you can’t, so guess what? It has to get fixed in the offseason.”
East Carolina’s offense steamrolled the Huskies from its very first drive, when the Pirates marched 76 yards in less than three minutes. Throughout the game, freshman quarterback Holton Ahlers dashed between UConn defenders on the ground and pinpointed open receivers through the air.
“Week after week, it’s the same results,” safety Tyler Coyle said. “We put in the work in practice, but we come out here and I guess we just freeze. I don’t know what’s going on.”
UConn’s defensive woes more than obscured a solid performance (or at least a solid first-half performance) from the Huskies’ offense, led by quarterback David Pindell. Nearing the end of a prolific senior season, Pindell passed for 156 yards and three touchdowns and also had a 16yard reception, even as he was thwarted repeatedly on his rush attempts.
Running back Kevin Mensah carried 14 times for 88 yards for UConn. Tight end Tyler Davis had four catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns (plus his first pass completion since 2016), while receiver Hergy Mayala added six catches for 35 yards and a score.
The game followed a pattern UConn has come to know well: close early, until the offense slows and the defense continues to allow points.
“It’s a broken record at this point,” Davis said.
For the sixth time this season, UConn scored first, opening the game with a 41-yard touchdown pass from Pindell to Davis. The Huskies and Pirates then traded touchdowns until the score was 21-21 midway through the second quarter. But UConn followed that hot start with two punts, a fumble and an interception, while East Carolina continued to pile up points. By halftime, the Pirates led, 34-21.
East Carolina continued to add to its lead in the second half, with two TDs in the third quarter and another in the fourth. Ahlers finished with 242 yards passing, 130 yards rushing and four TDs.
UConn failed to generate much offense in the second half as the score grew more and more lopsided. Late in the fourth quarter, coach Randy Edsall turned to junior quarterback Brandon Bisack, not freshman Steven Krajewski, to replace Pindell. Bisack completed 1 of 7 pass attempts.
Pirates defensive end Nate Harvey sacked Pindell three times, giving him an AAC-record 24 tackles for loss.
East Carolina outgained UConn 657 yards to 274.