The UConn Huskies made their return to the Fenway Bowl after winning nine regular-season games for the first time since 2009. They missed out on a 10th win and setting a program FBS-era record in a 41-16 loss to Army at Fenway Park on Saturday afternoon.
With multiple starters sitting, including multiple O-linemen and quarterback Joe Fagnano, UConn’s offense did not pack much punch while its defense, which had been generous and prone to allowing big plays most of the season, allowed 476 yards, 368
on the ground, and seven plays over 15 yards, including touchdowns of 40, 43, and 70 yards, including one through the air in the first quarter.
UConn got on the board first with a rushing touchdown from Cam Edwards. Though the junior RB is opting out and expected to enter his name in the transfer portal, he ran the ball 11 times for 108 yards and the TD to finish with 1,240 yards on the season, 15 TDs, and six, 100-yard performances.
Skyler Bell started the game but was done for the day relatively early. He attempted a pass on a trick play on the first drive and hit the bench in his jacket the rest of the way.
Victor Rosa, Oumar Diomande, John Neider, and Cam Chadwick are among the players who have announced their intention to transfer but still played. Rosa took the first carry of the game while Neider caught three passes for 27 yards.
True freshman Ksaan Farrar started under center for the Huskies. The Virginia native played about as well as one could expect after being thrust into these circumstances. He finished 11-of-17 through the air for 84 yards, adding a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Army QB Cale Hellums hit a play-action touchdown pass in the first quarter to tie the game after Edwards’ TD. They held UConn to 22 yards on their next two drives before a 43-yard run up the middle by Godspower Nwawuihe gave the Black Knights the lead. They would never look back, though the Huskies closed in with a field goal to make it 14-10 at halftime.
To start the second half, Nwawuihe took the troops’ second play from scrimmage 70 yards for a touchdown run that saw some awful tackling effort. It would go downhill from there. After a UConn three-and-out, Army converted twice on 3rd & 7 before a Hellums run made it 27-10.
Farrar moved the ball well on the ensuing Husky drive, but they turned it over on downs from the Army 11. The Black Knights drove 89 yards for another touchdown to put the game out of reach, 34-10. After a UConn touchdown and failed two-point conversion, Army recovered the onside kick and scored one more TD on the ground to make it 41-16.
UConn falls to 9-4 after its first regulation loss of the season. Next up, a long offseason awaits before the 2026 season opener against Lafayette.
