University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Boston College
UConn Heads to the Heights to Battle BC
10/26/2023 10:53:00 AM | Football
TV: ACC Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9  Affiliates - WAVZ 1300 AM (New Haven), WGCH 1490 AM (Greenwich), WILI 1400 AM/95.3FM, (Willimantic); WICH 1310 AM/94.5 FM (Norwich) Online: The Varsity Network App
QUICK HITS
The UConn Huskies are on the road to take on New England rival Boston College on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon on the ACC Network
This will be the 16th match-up between the Huskies and Eagles on the gridiron and first at Alumni Stadium since the 2016 season. UConn ended a 15-game winless streak against BC last season by beating the Eagles at home, 13-3. Saturday's game also marks UConn's third game against an ACC opponent this season, having lost at home to NC State and Duke earlier on the year.
The Huskies got a road win at Rice, 38-31, before their bye week on October 7 but saw a 21-10 fourth quarter lead slip away last week against USF at home. The Bulls scored twice in the final 10 minutes with running back Nay'Quan Wright capping the comeback with his second TD of the day with 4:02 left.
UConn sophomore running back Cam Edwards had a career-best 149 yards rushing to lead a UConn rushing attack that totalled 193 yards in the loss. Edwards carried the football 22 times on his way to his first ever 100-yard game. Edward ran for a 33-yard touchdown, and also caught four passes for 15 yards including a touchdown. He was the first Husky to rush for a touchdown and catch a touchdown since Arkeel Newsome did it against ECU in 2017.Â
UConn r-senior Christian Haynes was named to the Associated Press Mid-season All-American team last week. Haynes was named to the second team offense. Since the 2019 season he has started 44 straight games at guard and helps anchor an offensive line that ranks 24th in the nation this season in sacks allowed, giving up just nine in seven games (1.29 per game).
UConn Head Coach Mora returns for his second season leading the Huskies. Mora guided UConn to a 6-7 record in year one and brought the Huskies back to a postseason bowl game for the first time since the 2015 season. After a 1-4 start to the season, Mora led UConn to a 5-2 run through the rest of the regular season to become bowl eligible. Mora was hired as the 32nd head coach in program history in November of 2021. He returned to the sidelines for the first time since 2017 after a six-year stint as the head coach at UCLA. Mora led UCLA to a 46-30 record and four bowl appearances. His 31 years of coaching experience also included head coaching stints with the NFL's Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
Last Meeting vs. Boston College
Oct. 29, 2022 - UConn 13 - BC 3Â - Pratt & Whitney Stadium
The Huskies posted the program's first-ever win over Boston College, 13-3, at home ending an 0-12-2 drought against the Eagles in a series that dates back to 1908. The 13-3 win also ended an eight-game losing skid against teams from the ACC that dated back to the 2016 season (vs. Virginia - W, 13-10). It was also the first win over a Power Five school since that season as well. UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell turned in a dominant defensive performance, finishing the game with 12 tackles, a sack and an interception while also forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble to lead a UConn defense that held BC to just three points and 76 yards rushing. The Huskies posted five sacks and turned the Eagles over five times in the win. Freshman quarterback Zion Turner hit classmate Justin Joly on a 62-yard catch and run for the game's only touchdown and a pair of Noe Ruelas field goals wrapped the UConn scoring. With the Huskies up 10-3 in the fourth, Mitchell and the UConn defense took over and sealed the win. Mitchell forced a fumble to set the Huskies up for a 43-yard Ruelas field goal with 6:26 left. On BC's next drive, Mitchell picked-off quarterback Emmett Morehead to halt an Eagle drive at the UConn 28. The Huskies were forced to punt on the next drive, but Mitchell came up big again, recovering a fumble by Zay Flowers with 4:06 left to put the stamp on a dominant defensive day.
Scouting the Eagles...
The Boston College Eagles come into Saturday's game having won three-straight and fresh off a 38-23 win at Georgia Tech last weekend. Offensively, the Eagles have one of the top rushing attacks in the nation, averaging 211.3 yards per game to rank 13th among national leaders. Sophomore Thomas Castellanos leads the way with 628 yards on 111 carries, 28th nationally in yards. He is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and has scored nine touchdowns on the ground, ranked eighth in the nation. Through the air, Castellanos has thrown for 1398 yards and 10 touchdowns. He ranks 26th nationally in total offense per game, averaging 289.4 yards, and 17th in points responsible per game at 16.3. On defense, grad student linebacker Vinny DePalma leads the team with 53 tackles on the year. Defensive back Elijah Jones has a team best three interceptions.
UConn vs. The ACC...
The Huskies are 7-24 all-time against the ACC. UConn is 0-2 against the conference this season, falling to NC State in the opener 24-14, and at home to nationally ranked Duke, 41-7. The Huskies went 1-2 against the league last season, earning a 13-3 win at home over Boston College but falling at home to Syracuse, 48-14, and on the road at No. 12 ranked NC State, 41-10. UConn is 2-1 against Duke, 2-2 against Virginia and 1-2 against Wake Forrest. The Huskies are 1-3 against Boston College since the Eagles joined the league in 2005 and 0-3 vs. Syracuse since the Orange jumped to the ACC in 2013. UConn has also faced Clemson (0-1), Georgia Tech (0-3), North Carolina (0-3) and NC State (0-4). The Huskies were 1-3 against Maryland when the Terrapins were a member of the conference through 2014. The Huskies have also faced Louisville, Miami, Pitt and Virginia Tech in their history but prior to those teams joining the ACC. The Huskies have never faced Florida State.
