UConn kicker Chris Freeman has been reliable since coming in last season from Indiana. However, he had not kicked a game-winning field goal since his high school years at Zionsville High School in Indiana. That changed on Saturday to push the UConn football team (3-2) over the Buffalo Bulls (2-3, 1-0 MAC), 20-17.
The victory could have been sweeter had it been over former UConn quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson, who suffered a lower-leg injury in Buffalo’s loss to Troy last week.
Injuries started to haunt the Huskies too, as defensive lineman Stephon Wright went down with 13 minutes and 29 seconds left in the first quarter, along with star running back Cam Edwards with 13:34 left in the first half.
The first pivotal play of the game came with 10:14 left in the first quarter. On 4th-and-4 at UConn’s 35-yard line, Buffalo backup quarterback Gunnar Gray tried to keep the drive alive by targeting wide receiver Patrick Clacks III, but the pass was broken up by cornerback Devin Pringle to force the turnover on downs.
After an uneventful first quarter, the scoreless tie soon became a 7-7 tie in the second quarter. UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano led a 10-play, 93-yard drive down the field, capped by a 25-yard touchdown to star wide receiver Skyler Bell. It was the Huskies’ longest scoring drive of the season, previously a 92-yard touchdown drive in the season-opener against Central Connecticut.
Buffalo answered with a touchdown drive of their own, this one being a 75-yard drive in just five plays. Running back Lamar Sperling ran a career-long 63 yards for a touchdown with 6:33 left in the first half to even the score.
On the opening drive of the second half, the Huskies got back to work on offense. However, there was a scare on the drive, as running back Oliver Lundberg Coleman fumbled the ball on an 8-yard carry to Buffalo’s 8-yard line, but the possession stayed with UConn as second-string right guard Brady Wayburn got on top of the ball.
That ended up being a huge play for UConn, as the following play was an 8-yard touchdown run by Edwards to make it 14-7 with 11:16 left in the third quarter.
Every single drive that started and finished in the third quarter was a scoring drive.
The Bulls kept the following drive alive on 4th-and-3 from their own 46-yard line with a fake punt that allowed defensive end Malin White to not only secure the first down but also gain 15 yards to move the ball into UConn territory at the 39-yard line. They ended up settling for a 39-yard field goal to cut into the deficit.
The Huskies returned the favor with a field goal of their own, also from 39 yards out, to give Connecticut a 20-10 lead with 1:31 left in the third quarter.
The scoring stalled for most of the fourth quarter, with five combined punts. In no man’s land at the UConn 47-yard line, Buffalo went for it on 4th-and-3. Gray tried to connect with wide receiver Victor Snow, but the pass was broken up by safety D’Mon Brinson.
Buffalo searched for an answer with 3:52 left in the game. They had not been in the red zone all game. That was until, with 3:09 left in the game, Snow caught a quick pass for a 1-yard gain and a first down at exactly the 20-yard line. They would not have been in that position if it were not for a 27-yard completion between Gray and Snow to get to the Connecticut 30-yard line.
With the game on the line, Gray found running back Al-Jay Henderson wide open for a 5-yard touchdown on fourth-and-goal with 1:04 left in the game.
“I wanted to vomit most of the fourth quarter,” UConn head coach Jim Mora said after the game.
With the game tied at 17 with 59 seconds left, the Huskies had to get into field goal range from their own 25-yard line with no timeouts left.
On 3rd-and-8, UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano found tight end Juice Vereen for a 15-yard completion near the Connecticut 42-yard line to keep the drive alive with 42 seconds remaining.
Bell’s fumble, which was recovered by Edwards, would have saved the drive if it had not been ruled an incomplete pass upon review. Ironically, the fumble would have helped UConn, as they would have been deeper into Buffalo territory instead of being near midfield.
On 3rd-and-10, Fagnano connected with wide receiver John Neider for a 15-yard gain to make it first-and-10 at the Buffalo 32-yard line. Connecticut quickly got to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball with 15 seconds remaining.
With 11 seconds to go, Fagnano fired a quick pass to Bell on an out route on the left side of the field, where he stepped out of bounds with 11 seconds left.
From there, Freeman knocked down the 44-yard field goal to give the Huskies a 20-17 lead with six seconds left. Despite a desperate lateral play by the Bulls, UConn came away with its first road win of the season.
“I was hoping, just give me one more chance,” Freeman said. “Getting a win, regardless of how you get it, is a big deal. I’m just proud of those guys and proud of my teammates.”
It was the most important drive of the season thus far, with Fagnano leading the way. The former Maine quarterback had 219 total yards, including 64 on the ground, to lead the team, and a passing touchdown. He had the longest run of his career with a 38-yard run in the third quarter.
The offense had no turnovers, and the team itself had no penalties as they had their most unblemished game of the season.
UConn is now 18-5 against Buffalo, earning its first win at UB Stadium since 2011.
They turn their attention to Florida International on Saturday as the Huskies return home to open the month of October.