The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn on a win streak: What we learned
There is change in the air surrounding UConn football.
For the first time since 2017, the Huskies have won two straight games following Saturday’s 33-12 victory over Florida International in Miami.
UConn compiled 405 yards of total offense, 107 yards receiving and 298 yards rushing for four touchdowns.
The Huskies’ defense led the way for the second straight game, allowing 14 or less points for the second game in a row and third time on the season.
Aside from its gauntlet against top 25 opponents Syracuse, Michigan, and NC State, UConn has outscored its unranked opponents 93-60 with a 3-1 record.
The good times are certain rolling in Jim Mora’s first season as UConn is one win away from its first four-win season since 2015.
Here are takeaways from Saturday’s game:
LOCKDOWN DEFENSE
The UConn defense held its opponent to two touchdowns or fewer for the second game in a row and third game of the season.
While FIU totaled 409 yards on offense — 256 in the air and 153 on the ground — it was held to just 12 points.
UConn only surrendered points on two of FIU’s nine drives, forcing three turnovers, two turnovers on downs, and two punts.
“I thought the takeaways were obviously really important for us early in the game, got a jump on them and we were able to score off of those,” Mora said.
The Huskies three turnovers consisted of two interceptions by senior defensive back Tre Wortham and a fumble recover by senior linebacker and Ridgefield native Jackson Mitchell.
It was the second multi-interception game in Wortham’s career, and his third pick in the last two games. He now has eight career interceptions.
Mitchell and Stan Cross led the
team with eight tackles each while Ian Swenson and Eric Watts each recorded a sack.
FIU was only able to convert on third down on two of eight chances, while converting one out of two times on fourth down. The one notable mistake was a third quarter 65-yard Lexington Joseph touchdown on fourth and 1, cutting into the Huskies lead at 20-7.
RUNNING WILD
The UConn ground game continued to be effective despite the loss of starting running back Nate Carter, in large part because of its strong offensive line play.
“We felt that we had a chance, if we executed, to run the ball successfully against this defense the way they were structured and the way we are structured,” Mora said. “I didn’t know that we could run close to 300 yards, but we broke some big ones. When you are a young team with a young quarterback and you have some receivers out, it is critical that you take the ball away on defense and run the ball well on offense. We did that tonight.”
Devontae Houston, who is playing through a shoulder sprain, accounted for the majority of UConn’s rushing yards, while true freshman and Connecticut native Victor Rosa finished off two drives with touchdowns.
Houston recorded over 100 rushing yards in the first half, surpassing the triple digit mark for the second game in a row. Houston finished with 135 yards on 12 carries (11.3 yards per carry).
Houston was forced out of the game with an ankle injury early in the third quarter, a further hit to the running back depth chart that already has two running backs for the season.
“The X-rays were negative, but I am not sure what that means right now in terms of his availability next week,” Mora said about Houston. “We are light at that position and we are going to have to find a way to get things done.”
On the first rush after Houston left the game, Rosa filled in seamlessly with a 61-yard run, the longest of his young career.
Backup quarterback Cale Millen also scored his first touchdown of his college career on a 49-yard rushing touchdown with three minutes left in the game.
It was a big day for Millen, who had thrown his first touchdown pass of his college career earlier in the game.
“Cale Millen came in and threw that touchdown pass, shucked the tackle and then got his shoulders squared up and threw it in the end zone,” Mora said. “And then obviously the run at the end of the game. I was really impressed with his performance.”
Graduate student Robert Burns was the third most productive UConn back, taking seven carries for 34 yards while quarterback Zion Turner continued to display improving running ability with 22 yards on six carries.
“We knew that we were going to be able to pound the rock this week, that was definitely a big emphasis at practice,” Turner said. “Today they came out and god the job done... overall I love the way that we ran the ball today.”
FRESHMAN FIREPOWER
Three true freshman were key contributors to the offensive effort in the dominant win. Turner, wide receiver Justin Joly and Rosa at running back all left their imprint.
Rosa totaled a career high 89 yards on 16 carries (5.6 average) and crossed the goal line twice in the first half on 5-yard and 4-yard rushes. Rosa now leads the team in touchdowns with four on the season.
“We prepared well all week, we practiced hard and Charlton and the other coaches had a great plan,” Rosa said. “My line did a hell of a job blocking as you can see we could pound the rock all game. I am just blessed to have the opportunity to show what I can do.”
Turner, returning home to Miami, continued to show improvement, completing 14 of 19 passes for 102 yards without a turnover.
“It felt great to come out and execute like we did,” Turner said. “There are definitely still a lot of things we can work on, especially offensively. But I liked the way we played, we showed that we can get the job done.”
Turner also reigned in his first receiving touchdown on a 5-yard trick play pass from Millen. It was the first passing touchdown of Millen’s career.
“(Offensive Coordinator) Nick (Charlton) is very creative, and some of his creativity has been a little bit undercover because of the issues we are working through with personnel and youth,” Mora said. “But Nick looks for creative ways to find all of our players, and Cale (Millen) just keeps getting better.”
“We have worked on that play at least 50 times in practice,” Turner said. “And it doesn’t like like that when we ran it, but we got it done.”
After making three catches on third down in the victory over Fresno State, Joly continued his ascension as a primary target for Turner alongside Aaron Turner.
Joly caught five passes for a team leading 62 yards, including the longest reception of the day at 21 yards. He averaged 12.4 yards per reception.
“Justin ( Joly) is a big target, he has so much potential to unlock,” Turner said. “We just have to get him going, and he came out to play tonight. When you get a big guy who can move like that and get into those spaces and body guys up, he is a great receiver to throw to.”
MORE INJURY WOES
While most of the takeaways from the game were positive, one negative outcome is the potential loss of Houston.
Houston has been battling a shoulder sprain since he was was forced into action last minute in the loss to Syracuse. With the losses of running backs Nate Carter and Brian Brewton, the bulk of the load has fallen on Houston’s shoulders.
Rosa had little trouble in Houston’s absence, but going forward the most concerning position in Mora’s mind may have just gotten thinner.
LOOKING AHEAD
UConn has a chance to notch its fourth win on the road next Saturday at Ball State. Ball State (3-3) is coming off a 17-16 victory over Central Michigan, following up a 44-38 double-overtime victory in similar slim margin fashion.
After squeaking out a surprise victory against Fresno State a week ago and its definitive statement win over FIU, UConn will likely enter the week as the favorite for the second game in a row.
“I don’t feel like we played great, we played good,” Mora said. “But it is good to get a win, especially on the road. There are a lot of things that we need to do better if we want to improve and our team is really intent on improving. I don’t feel like they want to rest at all.”