UConn Football Secures Ninth Win Against Resilient FAU Owls
The UConn football program has now recorded back-to-back nine win seasons for the first time since 2000. The Huskies took on the Florida Atlantic Owls in Boca Raton to finish off the regular season with what proved to be a difficult contest.
Heading into the game, the Owls averaged 30.6 points and 431.1 yards per game with over 30 touchdowns scored. FAU got off to a terrible start as the Huskies’ offense managed to mount a 24-3 lead in the first-quarter of play. However, the Owls went on to finish the game with 687 total yards of offense and six touchdowns.
Owls’ quarterback Caden Veltkamp recorded 494 yards and two touchdowns against the Huskies’ defense. Veltkamp completely smashed a previous career-high of 398 passing yards while dropping back 55 times. The highlight of the loss for the quarterback was a 90-yard touchdown to Dominique Henry that brought the Owls within four points.
However, the Huskies would prove to be too much for the Owls with a key interception and a forced fumble that both changed the course of the game.
Joe Fagnano Impresses in Final Regular Season Game With the UConn Football Team
After previously thinking his collegiate career was over, former Maine quarterback Joe Fagnano returned to Connecticut. The quarterback finished last season with 1631 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a completion percentage of 58.3%. Fast-forward a few months and Fagnano has 2995 yards, 25 touchdowns, one interception, and a dark-horse case for multiple awards.
The quarterback has been a key part of the success of the program over the past two seasons. Against FAU, Fagnano had another exemplary performance with a new career-high of 446 passing yards, surpassing his old total by just one yard. The quarterback added three touchdowns and his eleventh interception-less game this season.
Fagnano could not have done it without a supporting cast, however, and multiple players were able to contribute. Wide receiver Skyler Bell recorded his seventh game with 100 or more receiving yards with a 125-yard effort against the Owls.
Bell had every chance to leave the Huskies this past off-season and rather the receiver chose to return. Programs such as Michigan were rumored to be interested, but the Huskies were able to retain the receiver who has been an excellent part of the offensive success of the team.
Running back Cam Edwards recorded 100 or more rushing yards for the second straight game with 101 yards and two touchdowns against the Owls. The Huskies stepped away from a run-heavy game for a portion of the season.
Another talented Huskies’ running back made his presence felt against the Owls’ defense. Mel Brown, who recorded over 100 carries a season ago, returned to action for the first time since suffering an injury against Delaware. Brown carried the football ten times for 70 yards and a touchdown while still retaining the option to medically redshirt this season.
