Rutgers 26, Connecticut 24

1234T
RUTG (5-2)3014926
CONN (4-3)0107724

Final

3:00 PM ET, October 22, 2005
Rentschler Field
EAST HARTFORD, CT

Rutgers snaps three-game losing streak vs. UConn

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Team Stat Comparison
 
1st Downs2217
Total Yards508293
Passing270196
Rushing23897
Penalties5-5312-80
3rd Down Conversions4-156-17
4th Down Conversions0-10-0
Turnovers21
Possession32:1027:50
Individual Leaders
Rutgers Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Teel10/2217602
Hart5/119430
Connecticut Passing
 C/ATTYDSTDINT
Brown18/3519621
Rutgers Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Rice27217030
Leonard1026019
Foster1202
Connecticut Rushing
 CARYDSTDLG
Brockington356151
Caulley1026018
Allen61908
Rutgers Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Harris495038
Leonard446119
Moses369131
Tucker233017
Connecticut Receiving
 RECYDSTDLG
Williams551115
Murray230123
McLean229017
Young222015
Scoring Summary
FIRST QUARTERRUTGCONN
FG2:57JEREMY ITO 44 YD FG
Drive info: 11 plays, 66 yards.
30
SECOND QUARTERRUTGCONN
TD6:15DAN MURRAY 7 YD PASS FROM DENNIS BROWN (MATT NUZIE KICK)
Drive info: 7 plays, 70 yards.
37
FG0:15MATT NUZIE 40 YD FG
Drive info: 4 plays, 8 yards.
310
THIRD QUARTERRUTGCONN
TD8:35BRIAN LEONARD 19 YD PASS FROM RYAN HART (JEREMY ITO KICK)
Drive info: 6 plays, 91 yards.
1010
TD5:33CORNELL BROCKINGTON 51 YD RUN (MATT NUZIE KICK)
Drive info: 1 plays, 51 yards.
1017
TD3:09TRES MOSES 31 YD PASS FROM RYAN HART (JEREMY ITO KICK)
Drive info: 5 plays, 79 yards.
1717
FOURTH QUARTERRUTGCONN
S9:20TEAM SAFETY1917
TD5:42SAM JOHNSON 15 YD PASS FROM RYAN HART (JEREMY ITO KICK)
Drive info: 6 plays, 57 yards.
2617
TD2:40JASON WILLIAMS 15 YD PASS FROM DENNIS BROWN (MATT NUZIE KICK)
Drive info: 10 plays, 88 yards.
2624

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- Ryan Hart played only one half for Rutgers, but it was enough.

The Scarlet Knights' career passing leader threw three touchdowns to lead Rutgers to a 26-24 win over Connecticut on Saturday.

Rutgers (5-2, 3-1 Big East) snapped a three-game losing streak to UConn behind Hart's veteran leadership and running back Ray Rice, who rushed for a career-high 217 yards. Hart entered the game as the Scarlet Knights' all-time leader in passing yards and tacked on another record when he finished with 45 career TD passes.

The Huskies (4-3, 1-3) suited up their third starting quarterback of the season because of injuries to Matt Bonislawski and D.J. Hernandez. Freshman Dennis Brown made his first collegiate appearance and threw for two scores, but was under a heavy Rutgers' rush most of the day. He was unable to field a bad snap midway through the third quarter that resulted in a safety, giving the Scarlet Knights the lead for good at 19-17 en route to their best start ever in the Big East.

Rutgers took advantage of the ensuing free kick and marched 57 yards on six plays, culminating with Hart's 15-yard touchdown pass to Sam Johnson with 5:42 left.

The Huskies countered in the closing minutes when Brown found Jason Williams for a 15-yard strike but were unable mount a threat the rest of the way.

Hart sat out last week's 31-9 win over Syracuse when he was lifted for freshman Mike Teel. Although Teel started on Saturday, Hart took over in the second half when Teel was sideline with a shoulder injury.

Hart stepped in with Rutgers trailing 10-3 and began to turn the game around. On Rutgers' first possession, Hart directed a 91-yard drive that included a 30-yard run by Rice. Hart hit Brian Leonard for a 19-yard score and the tie.

UConn regained the lead briefly 3 minutes later on Cornell Brockington's 51-yard TD run.

Hart brought Rutgers right back on the next possession, finding Tres Moses for a 31-yard scoring pass on the sixth play of a 79-yard drive.

It was a rare home loss at Rentschler Field for the Huskies, who have dropped only three games since the 40,000-seat stadium opened three years ago. The last home defeat was a 31-19 loss to West Virginia on Oct. 13, 2004.

Rutgers rolled up 508 total yards. Teel threw for 176 yards, completing 10 of 22 passes and was picked off twice in the first half.

Brown finished with 196 yards passing yards for UConn, completing 18 of 35 passes with one interception. Brockington led UConn with 56 yards rushing, getting most on his scoring run. The Huskies were held to 97 yards on the ground and had a season-high 12 penalties.

Neither team could do much offensively in a first quarter defined by solid defense. The Huskies had no first downs and only 13 total yards. Rutgers had 104 total yards, including 96 yards passing by Teel. UConn safety Marvin Taylor stopped one Scarlet Knights drive with a diving interception. Rutgers scored on its next possession, with Jeremy Ito's 44-yard field goal capping an 11-play, 66-yard drive.

Brown settled into the offense midway through the second quarter and directed a 70-yard, seven-play scoring drive, capped by a 7-yard scoring pass toss to tight end Dan Murray.

Matt Nuzie extended UConn's lead to 10-7 at halftime with a 44-yard field goal that was set up by Tyvon Branch's interception on the Rutgers' 31.

College Football Scores

Other Scores:

Saturday, October 22nd
20 West Virginia Postponed
South Florida
Syracuse 17 Final
Pittsburgh 34
Louisville 46 Final
Cincinnati 22
Rutgers 26 Final
Connecticut 24