UConn 35
UMass 16
Box Score

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Massachusetts fell 35-16 to UConn on Friday night at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field.

Derek Morris gave the Minutemen an early 3-0 lead with a 24-yard field goal to cap a 13-play, 69-yard opening drive. UConn responded with a touchdown pass from Kalieb Osborne to Shamar Porter before adding two touchdowns in the final 1:36 of the first half to take a 21-3 lead into the break.

Porter extended the Huskies' lead to 28-3 with a blocked-punt recovery for a touchdown with 6:44 remaining in the third quarter. Massachusetts answered with a six-play, 71-yard drive, capped by William Watson III's 7-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Kimmons IV early in the fourth quarter. The two-point conversion attempt failed.

UConn responded with a 5:05 drive that ended with Osborne's 13-yard touchdown run. Justin Williams-Thomas added a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:09 remaining for the Minutemen's final score.

Watson completed 22 of 38 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown. Joseph Griffin Jr. led Massachusetts with 77 receiving yards on four catches, while Kimmons finished with five receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown.

Defensively, Kendall Bournes recorded a team-high eight tackles, Timmy Hinspeter added seven tackles and a sack, and Isaiah Reed broke up three passes. The Minutemen recorded five sacks.

UConn outgained Massachusetts 438-303, including a 265-53 advantage on the ground. Cyncir Bowers rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Osborne threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns and added 66 rushing yards and a score. Neither team committed a turnover.

Massachusetts fell to 4-4 on the season, while UConn improved to 4-3.