University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn falls to South Florida, 40-21
10/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
TAMPA, FL (October 13, 2001)- South Florida quarterback, Marquel Blackwell, rushed for three touchdowns and threw for a pair as he led the Bulls over the University of Connecticut football team 40-21, Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. With the loss, the Huskies fell to 2-4 on the season, while USF evened its record at 3-3.
Connecticut got on the board first when Blackwell slapped the ball out of the back of the end zone to take a safety with 8:46 to go in the first after he was unable to control the snap from center. Miscues would also hurt the Huskies as South Florida’s Kenny Robinson came up with a blocked punt and returned it 16 yards to the end zone at the 5:50 mark in the first. Following a Santiago Gramatica failed extra point attempt, the Bulls led it 6-2.
With 7:41 in the second quarter, Blackwell dumped it off to Clent Crossley for a 14-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 12-2 and in doing so led USF to the first touchdown scored against the Huskies in seven quarters. UConn answered with a touchdown run from five yards out by Taber Small (Sr., Baltimore, MD) with 4:18 left before the half. Small’s carry tied him for second on UConn’s all-time career rushing touchdown list at 25. He also moved into 10th on the career rushing list as his total now stands at 1,623 yards to his credit.
Just before intermission, South Florida began to break it open as Blackwell came up with two touchdown runs of his own from three yards and one yard out to give the Bulls a 26-9 lead at the half.
USF rattled off 14 more points in the third thanks to a 27-yard touchdown reception to Travis Lipp from Blackwell and the quarterback’s third rushing touchdown of the game again on a three yard run.
UConn added two late touchdowns when Evan Benson (So., Marietta, GA) took it two yards into the end zone for his first rushing touchdown of the season and O’Neil Wilson ( So., Scarborough, Ontario) came up with a 10-yard pass from Dan Orlovsky (Fr., Shelton, CT) to bring it to 40-21.
On the night, Orlovsky completed 16 passes on 23 attempts for 144 yards and a touchdown, with Keron Henry (RFr., Brooklyn, NY) going 6 of 19 for 65 yards and one interception. Blackwell ended the game with 23 completions on 35 attempts for 277 yards and a pair of interceptions.
After next weekend’s bye, UConn will return to action on Oct. 27, as it hosts Ball State at 1:30 p.m. The game will serve as the 2001 homecoming contest for the Huskies.
