Electric drives, offensive efficiency and defensive improvement created the perfect storm for UConn to swiftly dismantle any advances Merrimack had. To make matters even better, UConn is 14-6 in home openers at the Rent. Now, they’ve added No. 15.
Before UConn’s record-breaking win, both teams were treading in uncertain water. Connecticut, attempting to leave last season’s 3-9 record in the rearview, was coming off a season opening loss. Merrimack was in the same position, as they opened their season with a 21-6 fall to the Air Force.
Even though the Huskies have had their fair share of trials and tribulations, Merrimack was not one of them. Joe Fagnano, who was called into the third quarter of last weekend’s matchup following a big hit to starter Nick Evers, sealed the deal against the Warriors. Fagnano finished with 328 passing yards and five touchdown throws, which tied the school record previously set by Dan Orlovsky.
Last weekend, Fagnano flexed his muscles and his promise as he secured the only points of the contest. This weekend, he did much of the same. Fagnano and his offense wasted no time asserting their dominance and found their first touchdown just two minutes in. While the first points on the board came from a one-yard rush, Fagnano showed off his arm with touchdown throws of 50, 60, 39, 44 and 12 yards. The star also made sure to spread the love as 10 separate receivers caught passes.
Much of the first half was categorized by Connecticut’s offensive efficiency and Merrimack’s blunders. A fumble recovery early in the first quarter by Warrior’s QB Malakai Anthony resulted in a loss of 18 yards. Luckily for UConn, Merrimack continued a similar downward spiral. Meanwhile, the stars aligned for the Huskies, who earned 35 points in the first quarter.
To close out the first quarter, wide receiver Skyler Bell, a transfer out of Wisconsin, crushed a 60-yard reception to finish 35-7. Just two weeks into his Connecticut tenure, Bell has already become a team leader in receiving yards, earning 105 against Merrimack. “I feel like I’m starting to prove that I’m one of the best receivers in the nation. I feel like that was my goal coming here. The goal was to help improve the team and win a lot of football games, and I think we are on the right track,” Bell said.
Although the Warriors were able to get on the board with a 46-yard rush, they paled in comparison to UConn’s offensive dominance.
In the second quarter, UConn’s momentum continued to build as Shamar Porter, Cam Edwards and Ezeriah Anderson all found themselves in the endzone.
By the half, UConn was at the top of their game and finished with 56 points to set a new FSB school record of points in a half. “I like the way we started, especially our offense,” said head coach Jim Mora.
Although the second half was a bit quieter for UConn, they didn’t get too comfortable. In a three-minute drive, junior tight end Alex Honig earned his first career touchdown on a 60-yard reception.
While that was all from UConn’s offense in the third, their defensive presence was also strong. For Merrimack, all roads led to defeat, and they failed in both rushing and passing.
At the end of the third, UConn saw a changing of the guard for the final quarter and several rookie players took the field. Merrimack soon grabbed the opportunity, and in a final push, secured a touchdown and a field goal to close out 63-17.
“My disappointment would be in the second half after that last touchdown. I felt like we got a little bit complacent when we put some of the young guys in. We can’t operate that way. There’s going to come a time this year when our young guys are in a game and we have to be able to step in and play at the same level of intensity and passion and emotion and execute well at the start of the play,” said Mora.
All around, it was a record-breaking game as the Huskies secured a 46-point win margin, the largest since 2013. Connecticut’s 624 total yards of offense also set a program record and their 63-point victory tied the FSB record for points set in a game. Despite their success, the Huskies’ work is just beginning as they prepare for Duke.
The Huskies will square off with the Blue Devils next Saturday at 6 p.m. in Durham, NC.