University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Liberty
Huskies Host No. 19 Liberty on Senior Day
11/11/2022 11:10:00 AM | Football
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn Huskies will play host to the No. 19 nationally ranked Liberty Flames on Saturday afternoon at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field . The Huskies have won three-straight at home are 4-1 in East Hartford this season this season as they host the Flames on "Senior Day" with opening kick-off is scheduled for 12:02 pm on CBS Sports Network.
Prior to Saturday's kick-off, UConn will recognize their 10 seniors in linebacker Marquez Bembry, linebacker Brandon Bouyer-Randle, linebacker Justin Bryant, running back Robert Burns, center Jake Guidone, defensive lineman Kayode Oladele, linebacker Ian Swenson, linebacker Hunter Webb, cornerback Tre Wortham, and long snapper Tommy Zozus.
The Huskies head in to Saturday's match-up off a 27-10 win over rival UMass last Friday night, their second-straight win and their fourth in the last five games. The win was the Huskies fifth on the year, their most wins since the 2015 season (6-7) and is more than the last three seasons combined.
UConn is one win away from bowl eligibility as they get set to face a nationally ranked team for the third time this season and are looking to end a 10-game losing streak against ranked opponents that dates back to the 2015 season. UConn's last win against a ranked team came at home when the Huskies beat No. 13 Houston, 20-17, to become bowl eligible during the 2015 campaign.
The Husky defense has moved up to 53rd in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing 24.6 points per game and are 35th nationally in redzone defense (.789). In UConn's five wins, the Huskies have outscored their opponents 120-42, allowing just 8.4 points. The Huskies gave up just three points in the win over Boston College, the fewest points allowed in a game since a 7-3 victory at Tulane in the 2015 season. It was also the fewest points allowed to a power five school in program history.
The Huskies rank 18th in the nation in turnovers gained with 18 on the year and are 41st with a +4 turnover margin. UConn won the turnover battle in last week's win over UMass and forced a season-high five turnovers in the win over Boston College. Senior cornerback Tre Wortham came up with his team-leading fourth interception of the year in last Friday's win. Wortham ranks eighth in the NCAA in interceptions.Â
Linebacker Jackson Mitchell has four fumble recoveries, the most for any player in the country this season.  Mitchell is the Huskies top-tackler and is second in the country in total tackles with 108 stops this season. He is ranked sixth in tackles per game at 10.8 and has recently been named one of 15 semifinalists for the 2022 Butkus Award.
Offesnively, the UConn rushing attack continues to climb in the national rankings and after 10 games ranks 38th in the NCAA averaging 187.6 yards per game. The Huskies are coming off a 274 yard performance against UMass, their fourth game this season going over 200-plus yards rushing as a team. Freshman Victor Rosa has seen his workload steadily increase over the season and tied his season-high of 17 carries, running for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns, also matching his season-high, in the win over UMass. For his efforts, he was named to this week's Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll. Rosa has a team-best six touchdowns on the year and has run for 387 yards on a team-high 102 carries.
Sophomore Devontae Houston returned last Friday after missing two games and ripped off a 75-yard touchdown run on his first carry back. It was a career-long run for Houston and the longest play from scrimmage this season for UConn as well as the longest scoring play. Houston finished with 84 yards on seven carries and is now the team's leading rusher on the year. In seven games he has run for 434 yards on 59 carriers, a 7.4 per carry average, with three scores.Â
Following Saturday's last home game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field this season, the Huskies close out the regular season next Saturday, November 19 with a trip to West Point to face the Army Black Knights.
