University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
West Virginia
Huskies Defeat West Virginia, 16-13 In Overtime Thriller
10/30/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 29, 2010
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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (October 29, 2010) - Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) recorded a career-high tying 33 rushes for 113 yards as the University of Connecticut defeated West Virginia, 16-13 in its first overtime game of the season. The win over the Mountaineers marks the first for the Huskies over the past seven seasons.
With the win Connecticut improves to 4-4 on the season and 1-2 in the BIG EAST, while West Virginia is now 5-3, and 1-2 in conference play.
Zach Frazer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) was 18 of 29 in the air for 166 yards, while Michael Smith (Houston, Texas) had six receptions for 56 yards. Sio Moore (Apex, N.C.) had a game-high 17 tackles for the Huskies, including three for a loss.
West Virginia's Geno Smith was 22 of 34 for 160 yards in the air and had 64 rushing yards, while Noel Devine added 67 rushing yards to the Mountaineer offense.
Lawrence Wilson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) tallied his second fumble recovery of the day when West Virginia had the ball on the one-yard line during the first overtime possession and Dave Teggart (Northborough, Mass.) converted a 27-yard field goal on UConn's ensuing possession, his third of the game, for the 16-13 Husky overtime victory.
With 10:48 left in regulation, Teggart converted a 26-yard field goal, to bring the score to 13-13 after Frazer put him in field goal range with a 40-yard pass to Kashif Moore (Burlington, N.J.). The field goal would mark the last time either team would score during regulation, forcing UConn into its first overtime game of the season and West Virginia into its second overtime game of the year.
Todman tied the score at 10-10 with 6:17 left in the third quarter when he scored on a 24-yard run. UConn started the series on its own 36-yard line and moved the ball with 14 plays including, eight Todman rushes.
On West Virginia's next possession, Tyler Bitancurt broke the tie, converting a 42-yard field goal to put the Mountaineers up 13-10 with 1:46 left in the third quarter.
West Virginia struck first in the opening half, scoring all of its 10 first half points during the first quarter.
After UConn was forced to punt following their second series of the game, the Mountaineers' took over possession at their own 47-yard line and Brad Starks opened their series with a 53-yard touchdown run to put WVU up, 7-0, with 10:23 left on the clock.
UConn managed to gain just two yards in its next possession, giving West Virginia the ball on its own 43-yard line. The Mountaineer offense was able to move the ball down the field, putting Bitancurt within field goal range, and Bitancourt's 36-yard attempt was good, giving WVU a 10-0 advantage.
UConn's first scoring chance of the game came when Moore forced a Devine fumble on WVU's first possession of the second quarter. The fumble gave UConn the ball on the West Virginia 44-yard line and Frazer opened the series with an 11-yard rush, giving the Huskies their first, first down of the game. After eight plays, UConn was not able to convert and UConn was forced to punt with 7:01 left on the clock.
The Huskies finally got on the board with one second left in the first half when the UConn offense was able to move the ball down the field with three consecutive first downs. Teggart converted a 39-yard field goal for the Huskies, putting the score at 10-3 going into halftime.
The Huskies will return to action in two weeks when they host the Pittsburgh Panthers on Thursday, November 11 at Rentschler Field in a 7:30 p.m. contest.
Players Mentioned
