Houston Cougars vs Connecticut Huskies Box Score on Nov 21, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Nov 21, 2015

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. -- Connecticut's third-ever victory over a ranked opponent was a bit tricky. OK, perhaps a lot.

The Huskies used a double pass and a surprisingly dominant defense to stun Houston and much of the college football world Saturday.

UConn qualified for postseason play and ruined the No. 13 Cougars' plans for an undefeated season in the process with a 20-17 victory at Rentschler Field. A large portion of the crowd of 26,879 stormed the field following the upset,

Huskies cornerback Jamar Summers' interception of Houston quarterback Greg Ward's pass with 55 seconds left sealed the upset.

Houston (10-1, 6-1 American) can still win the West Division and clinch a berth in the inaugural American championship game by beating Navy next week.

UConn (6-5, 4-3) used a trick play to seize control: Fullback Garrett Anderson's 45-yard touchdown pass to Noel Thomas gave the Huskies a 20-10 lead with 9:48 to play and appeared to seal the Cougars' fate.

UConn quarterback Tim Boyle tossed the ball behind the line of scrimmage to Anderson and just off the outstretched fingers of Houston linebacker Matthew Adams. Anderson, a converted quarterback, launched the ball deep to Thomas for the latter's second score of the game.

"I saw field pressure so I was a little hesitant to throw it to Garrett," said Boyle, who came on in relief when Bryant Shirreffs was hurt on the game's second drive. "It actually got tipped and I thought it was going to be going the other way. Thank God it didn't."

Houston responded to the trick play quickly as Brandon Wilson returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown -- his second return for a score this season.

After forcing UConn to punt, the Cougars drove to midfield before their drive stalled. On fourth-and-9 from the 48-yard line, Houston quarterback Kyle Postma appeared to hit Demarcus Ayers with a first-down pass in front of the Houston sideline.

But a video review showed Ayers' right foot was out of bounds when he caught the ball, and the call was reversed. The Huskies took over with 2:07 to play.

UConn running back Arkeel Newsome, who entered the game 20th in the nation in all-purpose yards, ran 32 times for 114 yards.

In addition to a season-low in points, the Cougars season lows in first downs (13) and total yards (318).

"I think we played a lot more physical than them. We focus on block destruction," said UConn defensive end Luke Carrezola, who had two sacks. "I think we just handled them up front."

The Huskies, who won only two games last season, are bowl eligible for the first time in five years and hopes this victory can turn the program around.

"It definitely starts it," said Thomas, who finished with seven catches for 108 yards. "But we come here expecting to win. It wasn't a surprise to us."

Postma started at quarterback for Houston in place of Ward and finished 16 of 27 for 190 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. But Ward, who sprained his ankle last week against Memphis, came on in relief when Postma was hurt in the fourth quarter. Ward was 1-for-4 for 18 yards with an interception.

The Cougars were averaging 43.5 points and scored at least 33 in each contest. But they trailed 10-3 at halftime after compiling just four first downs and 118 yards.

The Huskies took a 13-3 lead on a 39-yard field goal by Bobby Puyol late in the third quarter.

Houston finally got in the end zone with 13:55 to play as Postma hit Chance Allen with a 38-yard touchdown strike to make it 13-10.

Cougars linebacker Elandon Roberts, the AAC's leader in tackles, was ejected in the first quarter for a targeting hit on Shirreffs.

Shirreffs, who was sliding to the turf as Roberts hit him in the helmet, left the game and did not return.

UConn lost another key offensive player when tight end Tommy Myers hurt his left ankle in the first quarter and was carted off the field.

Diaco said after the game that Myers would not play again this season but that Shirreffs "seems like he'll be OK."

NOTES: Houston coach Tom Herman missed a chance to be the fifth coach in NCAA history to start his career with wins in his first 11 games. He would have joined Boise State's Chris Petersen (2006), Miami's Larry Coker (2001), Penn's George Woodruff (1892) and Yale's Walter Camp (1888). ... UConn RB Arkeel Newsome passed the 1,500-yard mark in all-purpose yards, joining Jordan Todman and Donald Brown as the only Huskies to reach that mark in the team's FBS era. ... Houston RB Kenneth Farrow hurt his left leg on the final play of the third quarter and did not return. ... Summers has an AAC-leading seven interceptions this season.