The UConn Huskies defeated the Lafayette Leopards 56-7
in their first game under head coach Jason Candle.In Connecticut’s 49-point triumph, the third-largest margin of victory in program history, the team saw immense success on both sides of the ball, though Candle indicated afterwards they still have some things to work on.
As the Huskies begin preparing for Maryland next week, here are some takeaways from the game:
Kalieb Osborne is Legit
Heading into the weekend, Osborne was revealed to be the starting quarterback on Friday
night. At Toledo, Osborne saw snaps, but was the backup to prolific starter Tucker Gleason. In the junior’s first game as a Husky, the dual-threat signal-caller did not disappoint.
By the end of the first quarter, he’d already completed seven of nine (77.9%) passes for 124 yards and two touchdowns. The Michigan native also carried the ball for 45 yards and ran in another, all in the first 15 minutes. To end the day, Osborne completed 19 of 26 (73.1%) throws for 265 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, and led the team with 92 rushing yards.
“My coaches always tell me, if I don’t see anything, if it looks cloudy, just use my feet,” Osborne said. “I was blessed by God to have the ability to run… I’m going to use it to my full potential that I can.”
Under pressure, Osborne was calm and collected. With 1:43 left in the opening quarter, he tried locating a receiver, but the pocket was collapsing. Instead of throwing it away, the junior found an opening and rushed in for a 9-yard touchdown, giving the Huskies a comfortable 21-0 lead. On multiple occassions, he evaded pressure and stayed in the pocket to make a good throw.
“My coaches put me in the right spot and mindset coming into the week,” Osborne said when discussing his control of the game. “Our o-line was executing and our wide receivers were catching balls. It was really just the preparation and trusting my teammates.”
Offensive Speed
UConn displayed big-play ability against Lafayette, setting a program record for offensive yardage with 671. The Huskies posted 11 passing plays over 15 yards and 11 rushing plays over 10 yards. We’ll be interested to see if that can continue, though probably at a lesser level, against FBS competition.
To kick off the outing, Osborne led Connecticut on a 2-minute drive for a quick 7-0 lead in just two minutes. WR Javon Brown broke out in a big way in this one. He caught six balls for 92 receiving yards and a touchdown. Trailing behind him, tight end Alex Godavitarne (3-for-3) and Raymond Liggins III (3-for-3) each registered 58 receiving yards. With three minutes left in the game, Liggins III scored a 60-yard touchdown.
On the ground, running back Trey Cornist compiled 76 rushing yards and crossed the goal line after a 55-yard run. Kenji Christian and Bowers each notched 47 yards and a touchdown while Christian added a receiving score after catching a ball in the flat and breaking some tackles.
“It can be very dangerous, especially if we just follow in our keys and we’re playing physical,” Cyncir Bowers said when discussing the run game.
In a combined total, the Huskies posted a balanced 370 passing yards with 301 on the ground.
Penalties Hurt
Despite nearly shutting out Lafayette, penalties prevented the Huskies from putting even more points on the board, with multiple big plays or TDs called back due to infractions. Defensively, the Huskies committed five penalties, handing Lafayette 84 yards.
“You never want to be a penalized football team, but I think that if they happen, they happen with aggression,” Candle said. “The pre-snap operation stuff, there’s just no appetite for that.
Offensively they had five penalties for 50 yards. With a minute remaining in the first half, JD Willoughby reeled in a 66-yard catch at the Leopards’ 35-yard line and brought it to the house. However, left guard Fred Johnson held, returning the play to Connecticut’s 24-yard line.
“You don’t get many chances at an 80-yard touchdown,” Candle said. “So, we’re going to take some of that stuff off the tape and fix some of it.”
Defensive Dominance
Lafayette didn’t get a first down until the second quarter. By halftime, they’d managed only five. Team captains K’Von Sherman and John Lista led the Huskies, tallying five total tackles, four solo tackles and a sack apiece. They stayed aggressive well into the third quarter and also got to rotate a lot of guys in as the rout continued. Lafayette had nothing going until the game was well out of reach. By the end, the Leopards converted just six of their 18 third-down attempts, with an average third-down to-go of 8.7 yards.
