Huskies fall back to earth in loss to Middle Tennessee State

Oct. 23—EAST HARTFORD — Six days after breaking through, the UConn football team went back to just being broken.

UConn was smacked around by Middle Tennessee 44-13 before a crowd of 10,698 Friday night at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, missing a chance to earn consecutive victories for the first time in four years.

UConn snapped an 11-game losing streak last week against Yale, and had actually been playing marginally better in some of its recent games prior to the victory.

But after playing the Blue Raiders (3-4) tough for a spell — the game was tied 10-10 late in the second quarter — the Huskies (1-8) reverted to some of their worst tendencies and were outscored 34-3 from there.

UConn turned the ball over three times, allowed Middle Tennessee to convert six of its first 11 third downs, and had numerous ill-timed penalties.

"Execution. On both sides of the ball, offense and defense," said UConn interim coach Lou Spanos, trying to explain the struggles his team experienced.

UConn has lost 11 straight games to FBS teams and 32 of its last 33.

Against the Blue Raiders, it was the Husky pass defense that struggled the most. UConn allowed 318 yards passing, while also committing two pass interference penalties and a defensive holding.

UConn is idle until a Nov. 13 game at Clemson.

"One good thing is we have a long break until the next game and this will all be cleaned up," Spanos said.

Middle Tennessee quarterback Chase Cunningham completed 25-of-36 passes for 297 yards and four touchdowns. Cunningham, who played just over three quarters of the game, also ran for 26 yards.

Six Middle Tennessee players had at least three receptions.

In honor of Pride Night at the stadium and LGBTQ history month in general, the Huskies wore rainbow stickers with the school's mascot on their helmets.

UConn quarterback Steven Krajewski went 21-for-37 for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also thew two interceptions.

In the first meeting between the teams since 2001, a wild second quarter followed a quiet first, and helped Middle Tennessee take a 24-13 lead at the half. The Blue Raiders scored 21 points in the frame as Cunningham threw three touchdown passes, two to tight end Jimmy Marshall.

UConn scored three times in the second as well, though two of those were field goals.

It was one of many small steps back the Huskies took in the game. Coming off their first victory in two years, they expected more. The expected another win.

"That was the vibe. We were feeling the momentum and everybody went out there looking to get the dub. But we came up short," UConn tackle Ryan Van Demark said.

UConn running Kevin Mensah returned to the starting lineup, though neither he nor Nate Carter were particularly effective. UConn gained just 67 yards rushing in the game on 28 carries.

"They (Middle Tennessee) did a good job of pressuring and line slanting, but also we have to break some tackles and stay on blocks," Spanos said.

The Blue Raiders kicked a field goal early in the third quarter to go up 27-13, though the Huskies took some solace in the fact that their defense finally held after a long drive by their opponents.

It was one of the last positive feelings the hosts would have Friday as Middle Tennessee poured it on from there.

Middle Tennessee had forced 14 turnovers entering Friday's game, the third-highest total in the nation. They added three more to that total against the Huskies.

The Blue Raiders picked up No. 15 in the first quarter when safety Deidrick Stanley knocked the ball away from UConn receiver Aaron Turner. The visitors took possession the UConn 33 and were at the 1-yard line in a handful of plays.

But the UConn defense stiffened at the goal line and held Middle Tennessee to a field goal attempt. Kicker Zeke Rankin, who had earlier missed a 41-yard attempt, hit a 20-yarder to give Middle Tennessee a 3-0 lead.

A lightning-fast possession by the Huskies' — three plays that all went for negative yardage, then a 37-yard punt — followed the first score.

Middle Tennessee then quickly added to its lead, using just four plays to cover the 51 yards it needed for a touchdown. Marshall hauled in a pass from Cunningham for the final 14 yards on the first play of the second quarter, scoring to put the Raiders ahead 10-0.

UConn broke through on its following drive to get within three. Some strong running by Mensah and plenty of yards after a catch by Keelan Marion set the Huskies up, and freshman tight end Brandon Niemenski found the end zone after a nifty play design allowed Krajewski to hit him with an 8-yard touchdown pass.

The Huskies knotted the score the next time they had the ball, with a 31-yard screen pass to Devontae Houston setting them up in Raider territory. The drive stalled not long after, but a 47-yard field goal by Joe McFadden made it 10-10 with 6:18 to go until halftime.

But Middle Tennessee added two more touchdowns before the break, and even a 56-yard heave from Krajewski to Kevin Clercius in the final minute would only lead to another UConn field goal.

Neill covers UConn men's basketball and UConn football teams, and he keeps a finger on the pulse of Connecticut sports. For live game updates, and more insight into UConn athletics, player transfers, and team changes, follow Neill on Twitter: @NeillOstrout, Facebook: JINeillO, and Instagram: @NeillOstrout.