University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Sacred Heart
Huskies Host Sacred Heart on Senior Day
11/16/2023 10:20:00 AM | Football
TV: WFSB-3
Web Stream: UConn+
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
Game Notes:  UConn  Sacred Heart
Quick Hits...
The UConn Huskies return home for the final home game of the 2023 season and Senior Day when they host in-state foe Sacred Heart University at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. The game will be available throughout the state on WFSB-3 and streamed on UConn+
This will be the first ever match-up between the Huskies and Pioneers who play in the Northeast Conference (FCS). UConn has played at least one Football Championship Subdivision school in each season since joining the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2002. UConn is 19-2 overall against FCS opponents. UConn logged victories against: Florida Atlantic (2002), Lehigh (2003), Murray State (2004), Liberty (2005), Rhode Island (2006), Maine (2007) and Hofstra (2008), Rhode Island (2009), Texas Southern (2010), Fordham (2011), UMass (2012), Stony Brook (2014), Villanova in 2015, Maine (2016), Holy Cross (2017), Rhode Island (2018), Wagner (2019), Yale (2021) and Central Connecticut (2022). The Huskies lost to Holy Cross (2021) and to Towson (2013).
In UConn's football history, they are 53-60-1 all-time against other programs from the state of Connecticut. The Huskies are 2-0, beating Yale (2021) and Central Connecticut (2022) since the transition to FBS (2002). Since 1900, UConn has faced CCSU (4-0), Coast Guard (13-1-4), New Haven (0-1), Southern Connecticut (2-0), Trinity (7-10-1), Wesleyan (9-16) and Yale (18-32).
The Huskies face the Pioneers looking to end a four-game losing streak coming off a 44-6 loss at No. 21 James Madison last weekend. The Huskies were held without a touchdown for the second-straight week, getting just two Noe Ruelas field goals (41,31). JMU quarterback Jordan McCloud completed 33 of 37 for 457 yards and four touchdowns as the Dukes remained unbeaten at 10-0. UConn's Ta'Quan Roberson finished 20-of-36 for 207 yards while Cam Ross caught four passes for a season-high 91 yards while Justin Joly had seven catches for 61 yards.
2023 Senior Day... The Huskies will celebrate the 18 members of this year's senior class before kick-off. Playing in their final home game at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Saturday is tight end Rayonte Brown, punter George Caratan, defensive back Desmond Fogle, linebacker Kevon Glenn, offensive lineman Christian Haynes, linebacker Jaylen Jones, defensive lineman Sokoya McDuffie, defensive lineman Collin McCarthy, offensive lineman Will Meyer, quarterback Cale Millen, linebacker Jackson Mitchell, offensive lineman Noel Ofori-Nyadu, punter Burno Perlicki, linebacker Noah Plack, wide receiver Geordan Porter, defensive lineman Eric Watts, defensive lineman Raashaan Wilkens, Jr., and linebacker Maurice Wilmer.
Senior Bowl Invite... Senior Christian Haynes, a r-senior offensive guard, has been invited to play in the 2024 Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. on February 3rd. The Reese's Senior Bowl is widely regarded as the preeminent college football all-star game and the first stage in the NFL Draft process. The longest continual-running all-star game has taken place in Mobile, Alabama the past 74 years. More than 900 NFL personnel, including key decision-makers from all 32 teams, and over 1100 media members from around the country were credentialed this year. This past April, the game produced 100 total picks for the third straight year, representing 40 percent of the entire NFL draft, including 40 selected on the first two days. Haynes has also earned an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Scouting the Pioneers... The Sacred Heart Pioneers come into Saturday's match-up off their bye week and will play their final game of the 2023 season facing the Huskies. SHU is coming off a 31-24 win over NEC and in-state rival Central Connecticut in their last action, snapping a five-game losing skid. The Pioneers have allowed 24.1 points per game and own the toughest pass defense in the country at the FCS level, giving up just 126.0 yards per game. The Pioneer defense allows 332.4 yards per game, ranked 34th in FCS, and have forced 16 turnovers this season. Defensive back Mike-Lee Joseph leads the team with four picks and Marques Mason has three. SHU has run the ball well in 2023, ranking 37th in FCS in yards per game at 160.4. Malik Grant leads the way with 706 yards and four touchdowns on the ground while Jalen Madison has 622 yards and four scores as well. Â
UConn vs. the Northeast Conference... The Huskies are a perfect 5-0 all-time against teams from the FCS Northeast Conference. UConn is 4-0 against CCSU and has only ever face one other school having beat Wagner at home in the 2019 home opener, 24-21. The Huskies have a future date at home against Central Connecticut in 2025.
