The University of Connecticut Huskies traveled down to Southern Mississippi on Saturday for their first road trip of the 2026 season in front of 23,000 fans.
With a temperature of 93 degrees at kickoff, a main concern for the Huskies was adapting to the heat.
“I think the guys did a really good job there. You can’t simulate the environment. You can’t simulate the weather. You just go and put a plan together,” UConn Huskies Head Coach Jason Candle said to the media post game.
Shouting out all members of the team, Candle emphasized the staff doing their part as well with hydration plans and strength staff all stepping up to get firing on all cylinders and they did right from the start.
The Huskies opened scoring on their first possession on a third-and-four; quarterback Kaleb Osborne scrambled right, avoiding the sack to heave a 38-yard pass to wide receiver Shamar Porter in just under a five-minute opening drive.
Southern Miss started sloppy with their opening drive, resulting in an interception by defensive back Braedyn Moore and a 24-yard return to put UConn in proper field position starting in the Golden Eagles’ territory.
On a seven-play drive, the Huskies would go 46 yards in under three minutes with Osborne running it in on third-and-two for the score, putting UConn up two scores halfway through the first quarter.
This momentum would only build for the Huskies’ defense, forcing a three-and-out, driving the Golden Eagles back 11 yards and pressuring them to punt.
UConn would then be held to a three-and-out before Southern Miss marched down in 10 plays for 51 yards, having kicker Creighton Wilbanks drill a 47-yard field goal to put the Golden Eagles on the board.
UConn would respond with their own 46-yard field goal by kicker Jack O’Conner and extend their lead back to 14.
Another big stop by the UConn defense forced yet another three-and-out.
The momentum on the Husky sideline was contagious, with the offense going 63 yards in three plays in just over a minute thanks to running back Cincir Bowers. The Pennsylvania native exploded for a 41-yard rushing touchdown, bringing the Huskies ahead 23-3.
Southern Miss responded with another field goal, but UConn would end the half on a last-second 29-yard field goal, going 52 yards in 33 seconds.
Southern Miss came out of the locker room led by their backup quarterback, Landry Lyddy, after Ethan Hampton reinjured his hand in the second quarter.
Their first drive would go 34 yards in six plays before going for it on fourth-and-eleven with the pass incomplete forcing a turnover on downs.
UConn responded with an 11-play drive and a 1-yard passing touchdown to Trey Cornist for the score.
Another poor start for the Golden Eagles offense with their next drive on first-and-ten, resulting in a pick-six for the Huskies as defensive lineman Anas Luqman took it back 24 yards for the score.
Lyddy eventually found his rhythm, going 75 yards in just four plays, giving the Golden Eagles their first touchdown of the game. It came from Steven Robinson, as he rushed for the 1-yard score with just under six minutes left in the third quarter.
Three consecutive punts would occur to end the third quarter with the Huskies leading 41-13.
The fourth quarter started with another turnover on downs by Southern Miss, resulting in the Huskies going 51 yards in five plays to punch in their sixth and final touchdown of the game.
Osborne would complete the drive with an 11-yard rushing touchdown for his second of the game. He finished with 214 passing yards with four touchdowns, two passing and two rushing.
Bowers led the rushing game for UConn with 84 yards, averaging almost eight per carry.
“[Bowers] is a one-cut-and-go guy. Without looking at it on the tape, from what I saw on the field there, he did a great job stepping through the safety’s tackle,” Candle said.
Porter had only two receptions but had 50 yards receiving, scoring one touchdown.
Lyddy led the Golden Eagles with 194 passing yards in one half throwing for one touchdown. Robinson was their leading rusher with 72 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Mario Sanders led Southern Miss with 81 receiving yards, including a 56-yard catch.
The Golden Eagles’ final score came with just 23 seconds left in the game, as sophomore Jaylen Himes caught a 10-yard pass for the final score.
The Huskies will continue their road slate facing Miami (Ohio) on Saturday, Sept. 26.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
Very great work highlighting a dominant win, Elliot!
I would note a few things, however.
1. Cyncir Bowers, not Cincir Bowers
2. I would definitely work on having more than one sentence per paragraph. Having multiple sentences in one paragraph makes your writing appear less choppy while providing additional details that can enhance the story.
3. On that note, having a mindset of adding multiple sentences in one paragraph will allow you to cut down on run-on sentences. Sentence variety goes a long way in terms of article quality.