UConn football routed Southern Miss, 48-20, as the Huskies dominated from the beginning until their backups entered the game in the middle of the third quarter.
Quarterback Kalieb Osborne completed an efficient 16-of-22 (73%) passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns. The junior also used his legs to keep plays alive and added two rushing touchdowns. For the second straight week, Shamar Porter led UConn (2-1) in receiving yards and caught a touchdown.
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The Husky defense made a pick on their first possession, their first forced turnover of the season, and forced two three-and-outs in the first four USM (1-2) drives. The home team’s quarterback Ethan Hampton finished the day completing 14 of 25 throws for 93 yards, an interception and a sack before exiting the game after a hand injury suffered in the second quarter.
On the Huskies’ first drive, Osborne connected with Ryder Treadway for an 18-yard completion to convert a third down to the Huskies’ 42-yard line. On third-and-4 from the 38, the pocket collapsed, forcing the junior QB to scramble out to the right. He fired the ball deep to Porter for the game’s first touchdown.
The Connecticut offense was back on the field again soon. Hampton was hit while throwing, and Braedyn Moore caught the ball in space, then returned it 24 yards to Southern Miss’s 46-yard line.
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To start the ensuing drive, Christian advanced a screen pass 14 yards. Then tight end Xavier Watson hauled in a 20-yard pass, spotting the ball at the 13-yard line. Osborne finished the drive with a 5-yard rushing touchdown. With just under six and a half minutes left in the opening quarter, UConn led 14-0.
Creighton Wilbanks kicked a 47-yard field goal after two penalties helped the home team stay in the game. Penalties were an issue for Jason Candle’s squad even though they maintained a large lead throughout.
Heading into the second quarter, Porter reeled in a 12-yard pass, followed by a 10-yard catch by Treadway. At the Golden Eagles’ 42-yard line, Osborne danced through traffic for a 17-yard gain. But a holding penalty stalled the drive, leading to a field goal by freshman kicker Jack O’Connor to make it 17-3.
After a USM three-and-out, Cyncir Bowers broke through an open hole to run in a 42-yard touchdown, making it 24-3.
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Wilbanks drilled a 34-yard field goal after the Huskies again hurt themselves with penalties. On fourth-and-13, the Golden Eagles converted a fake-punt pass, boosted by a roughing-the-passer infraction.
With less than a minute remaining before halftime, UConn got aggressive to add to its lead before the break. JD Willoughby caught a 32-yard pass at the 11-yard line to set up a short O’Connor field goal and make it 27-6 at halftime.
Coming out of the break, the Huskies kept their foot on the gas, while backup quarterback Landry Lyddy replaced Hampton. The offense stormed down the field 58 yards before a play-action pass to Trey Cornist on their first drive.
On the first play of Southern Miss’s next drive, Anas Luqman picked off Lyddy for a 24-yard house call.
On the next drive, Lyddy rebounded and passed to Sanders for a 56-yard gain. With six minutes remaining in the third quarter, Robinson ran it in from a yard out for their first touchdown of the night.
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To cap off the night for the Huskies, Osborne took advantage of a defensive pass interference and secured an 11-yard rushing touchdown. With time winding down, Lyddy found Jaylen Himes for a 10-yard touchdown to make the final score less embarrassing for Blake Anderson’s squad.
Next up, UConn will travel to face Miami Ohio on Saturday, Sept. 26 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN+.
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