UConn freshman running back Victor Rosa (Bristol, CT) ran for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns to lead the Huskies to a 27-10 win over New England rival Massachusetts Friday night at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

The Huskies (5-5) get their fifth win on the season and are now .500 at 5-5 with two games left on the schedule.  The five wins is the most for the Huskies since the 2015 campaign (6-7) and leaves them one win away from bowl eligibility.

Rosa fueled a UConn rushing attack that piled up 274 yards in the win and his two scores gives him a team-best six touchdowns on the year.  Sophomore Devontae Houston (Roanoke, AL) had 84 yards on seven carries including a 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the longest scoring play for the Huskies this season.

UMass (1-8) got the game's first points on a 23-yard Cameron Carson field goal at 4:43 of the first but Houston answered on the Huskies first play of the ensuing drive, ripping off a 75-yard burst up the left sidelines for his third score this season.

The Huskies took a 10-3 lead early in the second quarter on the first of two Noe Ruelas (West Hartford, CT) field goals, a 23-yarder that capped a 14-play drive.  UMass scored their only touchdown on the night on the ensuing drive as quarterback Brady Olsen hit Cameron Sullivan-Brown on a 53-yard pass-and-catch for six to knot it 10-10 with 6:51 left in the half. 

UConn put together a two-minute drill to close the half with points as Ruelas hit from 26 yards out to send the Huskies into the half up 13-10.

Rosa and the UConn defense took over in the second half to seal away the win.  Rosa ran for 73 of his game-high 87 yards in the second half, including both of his touchdowns, a five-yard plunge in the third and a 12-yard run in the fourth quarter with 6:64 left to put the Huskies up 27-10.

The Husky defense held the Minutemen scoreless over the final 30 minutes as sophomore Durante Jones (Atlanta, Ga.) led the way with a career-high 14 tackles and a forced fumble.  Junior linebacker Jackson Mitchell (Ridgefield, CT) had eight tackles and a fumble recovery, his fourth of the season.  Senior Tre Wortham (Stockton, CA) got his fourth interception on the season in the win.

Up Next:

UConn will host the No. 23 nationally ranked Liberty Flames next Saturday, November 12 on "Senior Day" at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentshcler Field.  The Huskies and Flames have met just once, a 59-0 UConn win at home in 2005.  Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon on CBS Sports Network.