The UConn football team traveled more than 1,300 miles to meet Southern Miss in near 100-degree heat for its first road game of the season and left with a dominant, 48-20, win on Saturday night.
After a week focused solely on getting better, it was an emphatic, methodical response to the Maryland loss as the Huskies improved to 2-1 on the young season, their first under head coach Jason Candle.
It is the program’s first 2-1 start since 2016.
Quarterback Kalieb Osborne led the offense to 435 total yards – 223 passing, 212 rushing – as he completed 16 of 22 passes for 214 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and contributed in the run game with 32 yards and two more touchdowns on 10 attempts. The Huskies scored on all four trips into the red zone and converted 8 of 14 opportunities on 3rd down after going just 3 of 11 against the Terrapins with no red zone trips last week.
UConn’s defense forced two interceptions, one from defensive lineman Anas Luqman that was returned for a touchdown, and held the Golden Eagles to 20 points despite their 401 total yards.
“I think we got off to a great start in all three phases, and when the quarterback’s able to play efficiently, that helps the engine of the entire unit,” Candle told Fox Sports Radio 97.9 after the game. “We got good special teams plays early, kicker stepped up and made some kicks, punted the ball well, the tackling was better on defense. Offensively we got in a little better rhythm and were more balanced being able to run it a little bit and that running game aids that pass game.”
The Huskies’ offense looked like a smooth operation out of the gate. After establishing the run early along a nine-play opening drive, Osborne showed off his ability to extend plays as he escaped the pocket and took a hit while firing a 38-yard touchdown pass to Shamar Porter, who found himself wide open as he juggled and brought in the one-handed catch.
It was safety Braedyn Moore, a Toledo transfer, who created UConn’s first takeaway of the season as he intercepted Ethan Hampton’s second throw of the game. It set the offense up with a short field and led to a five-yard rushing score from Osborne for a quick 14-0 lead.
UConn had 124 rushing yards in the first half, with a large chunk coming on a 41-yard touchdown run from Cyncir Bowers after the teams traded field goals in the second quarter.
The long run helped Bowers finish as the team’s leading rusher with 84 yards on 11 carries. Kenji Christian ran 15 times for 64 yards, and Trey Cornist had 18 rushing yards on six carries, adding a 1-yard touchdown reception.
Jack O’Connor, the freshman placekicker, made the first two field goal attempts of his career from 46 and 29 yards as he sent UConn into halftime with a 27-6 lead.
Picking up where they left off, the defense forced a turnover on downs to start the second half and the Huskies marched 59 yards down the field, getting into the end zone with a 1-yard pass from Osborne to Cornist out of the backfield. Five minutes of real time later, the Huskies were back in the end zone with Luqman’s pick-six, the first interception of his career.
Landry Lyddy, who started the second half at QB for the Golden Eagles after Hampton was hurt and threw the pick-six, completed a 56-yard pass that helped Southern Miss answer with a touchdown. But Osborne wasn’t done for the day until he ran in from 11 yards for his fourth total touchdown, making it 48-13, UConn, with less than nine minutes to play.
Southern Miss added a touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Lyddy to Jaylen Himes with 23 seconds to play.
The Huskies remain on the road for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Miami (Ohio) on Saturday.
“We know we have a dog fight next week, we’ve got a tremendous opponent and another road trip, so we’ve got to handle that trip like we handled this one,” Candle said. “It always helps to get off to a great start, especially on the road. And if we don’t, we’ve got to handle some adversities when they show up. Miami’s a great team, we get to celebrate this one, get home tonight, get back on the practice field and get ready for Miami.”