UConn falls in overtime to Rice in rainy Texas showdown

(WFSB) - The UConn Football team came into this week riding a four-game winning streak and a whole lot of momentum. With hopes of picking up their 5th win in a row, they jumped on a plane and flew down to Houston, TX, to take on the 3-4 Rice Owls.

UConn’s offense wasted no time getting to work in this game. On the Huskies’ first offensive play, Joe Fagnano threw an 80-yard touchdown pass to Skyler Bell. That big score set the tone for what was an exciting first half of action. Rice had two touchdowns of 73-yards or more in the first half, forcing UConn to keep putting points up on the board. Fagnano had three touchdown passes in the first half, giving the Huskies a 21-17 lead at the break.

After that explosive first half, points were hard to come by for both teams in the second half. Early in the 4th quarter, Rice scored a touchdown on the ground tying the game, 24-24.

The rain really picked up down there in Houston throughout the final quarter. With five minutes to go, UConn Kicker Chris Freeman lined up for what would’ve been a game winning 46-yard field goal. However, due to the rainy conditions, Freeman slipped on the wet turf and missed it. The game remained tied at 24 for the rest of regulation, sending the Huskies into their third overtime game of the season.

Rice got the ball first on overtime and they scored on a goal line rushing touchdown by Quinton Jackon, who had a monster day for the Owls. Jackson had 248 total yards and four touchdowns on the day.

That score put all the pressure back on UConn and when they needed him most, Cam Edwards found his way into the endzone, tying the game at 31, sending this chaotic game into a second overtime.

The Huskies got the ball first this time, and they failed to score a touchdown. Freeman made a 41-yard Field Goal, putting the Huskies on top, 34-31.

UConn was one defensive stand away from winning their 5th game in a row, but on the first play after that UConn field goal, Quinton Jackson scored the game winning 23 yard rushing touchdown for Rice, handing the Huskies a heartbreaking loss, 37-34 in double overtime.

This loss dropped the Huskies to 3-5 on the season. All three of UConn’s losses this year have been in overtime. First to Syracuse, then Delaware, and now Rice.

Quarterback Joe Fagnano went 32-48 with 344 passing yards and three touchdowns. Skyler Bell led the way for the Huskies with eight catches for 158 yards and one touchdown.

UConn will be back in Hartford next Saturday when they take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Kickoff between the Huskies and the Blazers was set for noon at Rentschler Field.