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UConn Huskies Knock Out In-State Rival Central Connecticut For A 28-3 Victory

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Football

For the second-straight week, UConn sophomore running back Nathan Carter (Rochester, NY) topped 100-yards rushing as the Huskies piled up-274 yards on the ground en route to a 28-3 win over in-state foe Central Connecticut Saturday afternoon at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

The Huskies (1-1) notch their first victory of the season and the first for first-year head coach Jim Mora at UConn.  UConn improves to 19-2 against FCS opponents since 2002 in dealing the Blue Devils a loss in their season opener.

The UConn defense allowed just three points in Saturday's win, the fewest points allowed since a 2015 win at Tulane (7-3).  CCSU finished with just 242 total yards of offense with just 78 yards rushing.

Carter paced the offense with 123 yards coming on 23 carries and a third quarter touchdown, his first of the season.  Carter also hauled in one pass for 18 yards in the win.  Classmate Brian Brewton (Miami, FL) carried 10 times for 62 yards. 

In the air, true freshman Zion Turner (Fort Lauderdale, FL) made his first career start and completed 14-of-22 passes for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns with an interception.  Sophomore tight end Brandon Niemenski (Mountaintop, PA) and r-sophomore Jacob Flynn (Southington, CT) each caught touchdowns in the win.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Blue Devils posted the game's first points on a Cristiano Rosa 28-yard field goal to cap a six-play drive coming off blocking a UConn field goal attempt early in the quarter.  The Huskies answered with a 14-play, 80-yard drive to take a lead they would never give up as Turner hit Niemenski on an 11-yard scoring strike.

Out of halftime, the Blue Devils saw their opening drive stall out on the Husky four-yard line but a 14-yard field goal attempt from Rosa missed off the upright.  UConn responded with a 14 play drive that covered 80 yards and was capped by a Carter 17-yard burst for six and a 14-3 lead.

The Huskies made it 21-3 at 11:19 in the fourth quarter as Turner found Flynn for his first career touchdown and freshman running back Victor Rosa (Bristol, CT) closed out the scoring with his first career-touchdown, an 11-yard run to cap a 14-play, 88 yard drive late in the game.

Junior Jackson Mitchell (Ridgefield, CT) led the defense with seven tackles, five solo while grad student Brandon Bouyer-Randle (Battle Creek, MI) recorded his first career interception in the win.

Up Next:

The Huskies are back at home next Saturday, September 10 hosting the Syracuse Orange at 7 pm.  UConn leads the all-time series, 6-5.  The Huskies and Orange face-off for the first time since 2018, a 51-21 Syracuse win at home.  The Orange won 31-24 in their last trip to Rentschler Field in 2016.  The game will be carried live on CBS Sports Network.