EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — UConn football stole a victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday, defeating Temple 29-20 on the game’s final play.
With the win, UConn remains undefeated at home this season, moving to 4-0 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in 2024.
After an exciting second half that saw both teams trade leads with touchdown scores, the game came down to its last play.
With three seconds remaining, UConn led 23-20, but Temple needed less than a yard to earn to score a touchdown and earn their first road win since Sept. 11, 2021. Instead of kicking a field goal to send the game to overtime, the Owls elected to go for it on fourth down.
After an unclean snap, Temple fumbled the ball, which bounced into the waiting hands of UConn defensive back Jordan Wright. Pointing to his sideline as he sprinted down the field, Wright returned the fumble for a touchdown as time expired, sealing UConn’s third win in a row.
Starting in the place of the injured Nick Evers, backup quarterback Joe Fagnano threw for 272 yards, completing 24 of his 41 attempts. Fagnano threw for one touchdown and two interceptions and led a late drive to put the Huskies ahead, including a brilliant scrambling throw 32-yard completion to wide receiver Brett Buckman on 3rd & 10.
UConn wide receiver TJ Sheffield was the star of the game, catching nine passes for 141 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown that put the Huskies ahead late in the third quarter.
Coming off back-to-back standout performances against FAU and Buffalo, UConn’s rushing attack couldn’t get much going against Temple, running for just 99 yards. Durell Robinson led the way for the Huskies with 52 yards on 12 carries. Robinson scored a touchdown from a yard out that ultimately put UConn ahead late in the fourth quarter.
Temple quarterback Forrest Brock completed 18 of 31 passes for 136 yards and an interception. Running back Terrez Worth did much of the damage for the Owls, rushing for 95 yards on 12 carries. Brock did reach the end zone on an eight-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to put Temple ahead.
Both teams relied on their special teams units for large stretches of the game. UConn kicker Chris Freeman was perfect on the day, connecting from 43, 24 and 35 yards. Temple kicker Maddux Trujillo nailed a 60-yard field goal.
Temple’s only touchdown prior to the fourth quarter came on a blocked punt recovered in the Huskies’ end zone by John Adams in the second quarter.
After defeating its previous three opponents in East Hartford by a combined score of 158-34, the UConn offense was noticeably slowed by the Temple defense, but the Huskies will welcome the close game experience.
UConn is off next week and continues its six-game homestand at Rentschler Field at noon on Oct. 19 against Wake Forest.
It is the first time since 2009 that the Huskies have advanced to 4-2.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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