A losing numbers game
UConn has dropped 20 straight games against Division I programs
EAST HARTFORD — The sparse crowd was settling into their seats at Rentschler Field Saturday when the home team fell behind in the first quarter.
There would be signs of hope, inevitably followed by a step or two back. By the time it was close to concluding, there a sense of folly — the South Florida Bulls scored on a long gallop by their kicker on a fake fieldgoal attempt in the fourth quarter before scoring on a 33yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds left on the clock.
The final: USF 48, UConn 22.
In a battle of programs starving for a win over a FBS opponent, the Bulls (23) pounded the Huskies (14). It was USF’s first win over a FBS foe since beating UConn a year ago, ending a ninegame losing streak.
For UConn, the losing streak vs. Division I programs has hit 20. The Huskies have also lost 13 consecutive American Athletic Conference games.
“We got beat by a more athletic team, a better team,” UConn coach Randy Edsall said.
South Florida had lost nine of 10 and was coming off a 4821 loss to SMU. UConn, fresh off a 5621 loss to nationallyranked UCF, was returning home to host a seemingly beatable team.
But the Huskies couldn’t compete. Before about 11,000 — announced attendance was 18,038 based on tickets distributed — UConn watched USF compile 503 yards, including 313 on the ground.
Running back Jordan Cronkrite gained 148 yards on 20 carries while quarter
back Jordan McCloud picked up 62 yards on the ground (including a 26yard touchdown run) and threw for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
But there were missed tackles and missed opportunities to pin McCloud in the backfield, as the quarterback continually scrambled away from pressure.
“Kids tried,” Edsall said. “But there was a case where their athlete was better than our’s. Guys will learn from it and get better and that’s all that we can do.”
It was 140 in the second quarter when UConn scored on a 25yard pass from Mike Beaudry to Elija Jeffreys. But USF immediately responded with a touchdown.
When UConn answered with another scored on an 18yard run by Kevin Mensah (70 yards), the Bulls stopped the momentum with a touchdown.
It was 2714 at halftime and there was no climbing back.
“You think you maybe get some momentum back and then you’re back behind it again,” Edsall said. “Those are the things that you can’t do. … Against a team like this, the margin for error is very, very small because of speed and athleticism. And so we weren’t exact enough and we didn’t perform at a good enough level against the athleticism and the speed that we went against today.”
Leading 3414, USF executed the fake field goal as the Bulls’ kicker outran UConn defenders into the end zone. With less than a minute left and a 4122 lead, the Bulls could have kneeled and let the game
end.
Instead, Kirk Rygol threw a 33yard touchdown pass to DeVontres Dukes.
PILING ON?
USF coach Charlie Strong apologized to Edsall after the game.
“I said Charlie, I got no problem with that,” Edsall said. “I talk about playing every play like it’s the last play you’re ever going to play. And there’s a great example. You’ve got to do that. And don’t have guys doing that yet.
“We’re still in a process that, it’s hard. People might not want to hear it, but … we’ve got to keep going, we’ve got to keep working and getting these guys to understand that every play is important, that what you do and how you execute is going to determine if you give yourself an opportunity to win.”
The UConn offense produced 293 yards, but failed to complete drives. There were three punts from inside USF territory.
“Such good field position … A lot of times we couldn’t capitalize on it,” Beaudry said. “We just stalled out right outside of fieldgoal range.”
RAYS OF LIGHTS?
Mensah surpassed 2,000 career yards, becoming the ninth player in program history to reach the mark.
Beaudry, the Game 1 starter, returned to the starting lineup after battling an injury and losing the job. He was 18 of 29 for 209 yards. Edsall said he was inconsistent, some nice throws mixed with some mistakes.
The graduate transfer said he felt comfortable after being on the sideline.
“It was definitely good to get back,” Beaudry said. “It kind of gave me a different perspective on playing
football and how fast things can change. … I felt like I was seeing things really well.”
Next up for UConn is a visit to Tulane (41), which beat Army Saturday. Looking ahead, there are seemingly winnable games: Houston, UMass, East Carolina.
But the inability to compete against USF is telling.
“We’ll just keep working,” Edsall said. “We’ll go back and watch the films, show them what they did right, show them what they did wrong, and work to get better.”