UConn football future opponents: Week 2

UConn football quarterback Mike Beaudry was hurt during the week, and true freshman Jack Zergiotis was drafted to replace him. After the narrow loss to Illinois, head coach Randy Edsall announced that it would be on a permanent basis. The Huskies are now 1-1 with 10 games to go. How did those teams fare this week?

Indiana (2-0) - Sept. 21

Indiana hosted FCS foe Eastern Illinois and took the Panthers to the woodshed, 52-0. Starting quarterback Michael Pennix Jr. was an efficient 14-of-20 passing for 197 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Peyton Ramsey relieved him at 28-0 and was ruthless, completing 13 of his 14 passes for 226 yards and another two scores. Most of the production came via the air, but Stevie Scott III added 61 yards on the ground as well as a touchdown. Indiana scored 21 points in the first quarter and added another two touchdowns before the half. The Hoosier defense held Eastern Illinois to just 116 yards on offense, despite not forcing a turnover.

No. 18 UCF (2-0) - Sept. 28

With a big matchup against No. 23 Stanford looming next week, the Knights took full advantage of their tuneup against Florida Atlantic, scoring two touchdowns in each of the first three quarters and did not allow an Owl touchdown until the fourth quarter on their way to a 48-14 win. Dillon Gabriel was only 7-of-19 passing, but threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns. UCF ran for 312 yards, anchored by Greg McCrae (93 yards), Bentavious Thompson (91 yards) and Otis Anderson (75 yards). Each of the three found the end zone once, as did Adrian Killins, Jr. and Gabriel.

USF (0-2) - Oct. 5

USF was on the road against Georgia Tech and couldn’t pull out a victory, taking a 14-10 defeat after fumbling on the goal line when trying to take the lead inside 10 minutes to go. Blake Barnett completed 12 of his 20 passes for just 79 yards, but added 42 yards on the ground as the team’s leading rusher. After being sacked, Jordan Cronkite replaced Barnett late in the third quarter and was 4-of-5 for 90 yards and the Bulls’ lone touchdown. It was a true defensive struggle, as the Bulls’ offense barely out-gained the Yellow Jackets, 262 to 257.

Tulane (1-1) - Oct. 12

The Green Wave took their show to No. 10 Auburn and led 3-0 after the first quarter and trailed only 14-6 at the half. However, the Tiger defense tightened up in the third and fourth quarters and helped defeat Tulane, 24-6. The Green Wave had five possessions that gained just 98 yards in the second half. Two ended in punts, another pair ended with a turnover on downs and the fifth was an interception. The teams combined for 14 punts. Justin McMillan passed for only 103 yards, completing 10 of his 33 attempts. He also was the team’s leading rusher, adding 54 on the ground.

Houston (1-1) - Oct. 19

In a game that might have been a little closer than the score indicated, Houston took down Prairie View A&M, 37-17. The teams were nearly deadlocked on offense at 380 yards for the Cougars to 343 for the Panthers. D’Eriq King was 15-of-26 passing for 139 yards with a touchdown against an interception. However, he also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns, despite rushing for negative yardage. Kyle Porter and Chandler Smith added 120 yards and 90 yards, respectively, on the ground. Houston started off hot, scoring 24 points in the first quarter and another 10 during the second.

UMass (0-2) - Oct. 26

The Minutemen were defeated handily, 45-20, by FCS opponent Southern Illinois. UMass led 6-0 after the first quarter, but for the second straight week, fell apart as the Salukis scored two touchdowns in each of the final three quarters. Randall West and Andrew Brito divided the quarterback duties, with each throwing an interception. West was slightly more successful, at 9-of-17 passing for 125 yards, but Brito delivered a touchdown. Bilal Ally had 87 yards on 16 carries. The Minuteman defense allowed 237 rushing yards and another 265 through the air.

Navy (1-0) - Nov. 1

Navy is on its bye this week. The Midshipmen will return to action on September 14 to open American Athletic Conference play against ECU.

Cincinnati (1-1) - Nov. 9

No. 5 Ohio State was considered to be on upset alert at home against in-state rival Cincinnati. The Bearcats trailed only 7-0 after first quarter and it seemed as though that theory might hold true and the contest would be close until the end after Cincinnati stopped them on fourth down deep in their own territory. However, the Buckeyes tallied 21 points before halftime and held the Cincinnati offense without any points. The visiting Bearcats gained only 273 yards and were almost out-gained by the Ohio State rushing attack. Desmond Ridder was 13-of-20 passing for 166 yards and threw one interception. Tavion Thomas led Cincinnati in rushing with 58 yards on 11 attempts.

ECU (0-1) - Nov. 23

ECU took a strong 48-9 win over FCS foe Gardner-Webb and allowed just 186 yards and 13 first downs in the process. Holton Ahlers was 18-of-29 passing for 195 yards, with a touchdown against one interception. Ahlers also added 78 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Darius Pinnix, Jr. rushed for 134 yards and a pair of scores. Demetrius Mauney had a 100-yard rushing day of his own, gaining 106 yards as part of a 365-yard day for the Pirates on the ground. The ECU defense also forced two interceptions. However, the Bulldogs earned a safety after tackling Pinnix in the end zone.

Temple (1-0) - Nov. 30

Temple is taking the week off after a big victory against Bucknell in Week 1. The Owls will host Maryland on September 14.