UConn Comes From Behind to Beat Virginia 13-10

Walk-on kicker Alex Furbank missed a 20-yard field-goal attempt for Virginia as time expired and UConn held on to beat the Cavaliers 13-10 on Saturday.

Bobby Puyol hit the 43-yard game-winning field goal with 1:33 left for the Huskies (2-1), who overcame early 10-point deficit with two fourth-quarter scores.

UConn Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs completed 13 of 24 passes for 154 yards. He also ran for 33 yards and a touchdown.

A 20-yard run by Shirreffs and a 23-yard screen play to Noel Thomas set up Puyol's game winner.

But Virginia (0-3) got the ball back and moved right down the field. A 33-yard strike down the left side from Kurt Benkert to Doni Dowling on Virginia's final drive put the Cavaliers in UConn territory. It appeared they would at least send the game into overtime after Benkert hit Keeon Johnson with a 34-yard fourth-down pass to put the ball inside the UConn 10.

But the Husky defense stiffened, stopping Benkert at the 2-yard line on third down. The Cavaliers, who had no timeouts remaining, were able to rush the field-goal unit onto the field, but Furbank pulled the ball left.

It was the 17th straight road loss for Virginia, and leaves first-year coach Bronco Mendenhall still looking for his 100th career win. He was 99-43 during his 11-year tenure at BYU.

Virginia opened the scoring with first quarter drives of 12 and 13 plays. The first led to a 23-yard field goal from Furbank. It was the sophomore's first football game at any level. He played soccer at Division III Randolph Macon before transferring to Virginia.

A 9-yard touchdown run by Albert Reid made it 10-0.

UConn drove to the Virginia 2-yard line in the second quarter but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal.

The Huskies, helped by interference and face mask calls on Virginia, drove 37-yards in nine plays to tie the game with just under 8 minutes remaining. Shirreffs ran the ball in on a sweep from a yard out.

Virginia then drove to the UConn 24-yard line, but a run by Albert Reid on fourth-and-1 came up short.

Arkeel Newsome ran 13 times for 90 yards for UConn. Benkert completed 23 of 42 passes for 241 yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

VIRGINIA: The Cavaliers continued to make too many mistakes to win. They were penalized 10 times for 91 yards. The team had not won away from Charlottesville since Nov. 3, 2012, when Virginia beat North Carolina State 33-6.

UCONN: The Huskies three games this season have been decided by a total of 10 points. It was an important win for Connecticut, which lost last week at Navy when it was stopped inside the 1-yard line as time expired.

UP NEXT

VIRGINIA: After traveling more than 6,000 miles over the last two weeks to play at Oregon and Connecticut, the Cavaliers return home to face Central Michigan next Saturday.

UCONN: The Huskies play their second straight home game against an ACC opponent when they face Syracuse next Saturday. The Huskies play three non-conference games against the ACC this year. They will travel to Boston College in November.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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