University of Connecticut Athletics
UConn's Interceptions Disarm Cadets in 47-13 Win
10/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
WEST POINT, N.Y. (Oct. 1) -- Junior quarterback Matt Bonislawski (Natrona Heights, Pa.) threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns to senior Jason Williams (McKeesport, Pa.) and the Husky defense intercepted Army four times and returned two for scores as Connecticut defeated the Black Knights, 47-13, before a sellout crowd of 38,482 at Blaik Field at Michie Stadium.
The Huskies improve to 3-1 with the win, while Army slips to 0-4.
Connecticut’s defense was the catalyst for the win, limiting the Black Knights to just 262 yards of total offense, including just 53 before halftime. Freshman defensive back Darius Butler (Tamarac, Fla.) intercepted three passes (the first three of his career), returning one 86 yards for a score in the fourth quarter. The three interceptions tied a school record for picks in a game. Freshman linebacker Anthony Rouzier (Amherst, Mass.) returned an interception 51 yards to close out the scoring. Army was held to just 71 yards rushing on 40 attempts.
Bonislawski had an efficient afternoon directing the Husky attack. He completed 18 of 26 pass attempts and the two scoring strikes. As usual, junior running back Terry Caulley (Lusby, Md.) was the sparkplug of the UConn ground attack, rushing for 87 yards and scored two touchdowns. Caulley now has 26 touchdowns in his career, tying him with Taber Small for second place in UConn history. He also caught six passes (tying his career-high) for an additional 46 yards.
The contest was still in doubt early in the third quarter after Army converted a short field following a UConn punt from their own end zone. Scott Wesley scored his second touchdown of the game on a 24-yard scamper to cut the 24-6 Husky halftime lead to 24-13. But the Huskies finished the quarter with a flourish, marching 66 yards in 11 plays, scoring when Caulley bulled over from the one giving the Huskies a 30-13 entering the final stanza.
UConn put the game away in the fourth quarter when Butler intercepted Army quarterback Zac Dahman and raced 86 yards for the score. The return was the third longest in school history. Connecticut amassed 133 yards in interception return yards, which set a new Michie Stadium record.
After holding the Black Knights to a three-and-out on the games opening possession, the Huskies extended their impressive streak of scoring on their first drive of the game in every game this season. Bonislawski hit all five pass attempts on the drive, connecting with Williams for the final 21 yards and the game’s first touchdown just 4:48 into the contest. Army answered right back with a 10-play, 84-yard drive that saw Wesley bowl over from the one. After a missed extra point, the Huskies led 7-6.
Butler intercepted Dahman on the second play of the second quarter and returned it 35 yards to the Army 4. Caulley scored on the first play after the turnover and the Huskies led 14-6. Later in the quarter, Bonislawski hit Williams with an eight-yard scoring toss to give the Huskies a 21-6 lead with 2:26 to play before intermission. The pass was the only non-running play of the drive, keyed by junior Cornell Brockington (Burlington, N.J.), who had 26 yards on four carries on the drive.
After an Army punt, the Huskies drove to the Black Knight 18, where junior kicker Greg Vicidomino (Seymour, Conn.) hit a 35-yard field goal. Vicidomino replaced starter Matt Nuzie (Trumbull, Conn.), who was injured on the prior kickoff. Nuzie also missed three field goals in the first half. The two field goals by Vicidomino were the first of his career.
Sophomore punter Shane Hussar (Plantation, Fla.) had a solid outing for UConn, averaging 43.8 yards on five punts. Freshman linebacker Jonathon Smith (Camp Hill, Pa.), making his first collegiate start in place of injured starter Danny Lansanah (Harrisburg, Pa.), led UConn with nine tackles. The UConn defense had five sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
The Huskies will have a short week, as they return to the gridiron on Friday, October 7, when they play their 2005 BIG EAST Conference opener against Syracuse at Rentschler Field in East Hartford. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2, and kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m.
TEAM NOTES
w This is the first time in school history that UConn has returned two interceptions for a touchdown in the same game.
w UConn’s 173 interception return yards set a school record. The old mark of 111 was set against Rhode Island on Nov. 17, 1962. The 173 yards is second-best in BIG EAST history, topped only by West Virginia’s 175 on Oct. 29, 1994 against Louisiana Tech.
w UConn’s four interceptions today are its most a four interception effort at Iowa State on Nov. 23, 2002 in a monumental 37-20 win.
w UConn has now scored on its opening drive in each of its four games this year, five in a row overall, and eight of its last 10 contests in total. UConn is 5-2 in those contests with both losses coming at Georgia Tech.
w The field goal blocks by Army were the first against the Huskies since Nov. 9, 2002, the final game at Memorial Stadium. That day Kent State’s Jacon Avery blocked a Marc Hickok attempt. It was the first attempt by Nuzie to ever be blocked.
w The Huskies have now won eight of its last nine games following losses, dating back to Oct. 26, 2002.
w The Huskies are 3-1 for the third consecutive season. That last happened from 1995-98 when the Huskies were either 3-1 or 4-0 for four consecutive seasons.
w UConn leads the series with Army 3-1 overall and 3-0 in the Huskies’ Division I-A era. The Black Knights of the Hudson are scheduled to return to Rentschler Field on Oct. 14, 2006.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
w Darius Butler’s three interceptions today are the first of his career. The three tie a school record previously done three times and last by Matt Latham against Lehigh on Sept. 15, 1984. It also tied the BIG EAST record, previously done 11 times. The 86-yard interception return was the third longest in school history and the longest since Dave Korponai ran one back 100 yards against Rhode Island on Nov. 17, 1962.
w Graig Vicidomino’s 35-yard field goal was the first of his career. He missed two attempts (from 39 and 41 yards) in 2003, both against Lehigh on Oct. 4, 2003. Vicidomino had made three career PATs prior to today.
w Jason Williams had his second career multiple-TD game. The other came against Murray State on Sept. 4, 2004.
w Mat Nuzie did make three extra points today, giving him an even 100 in his career and breaking the previous school benchmark of 99 set by Nick Sosik from 1990-93.
w Terry Caulley’s touchdown runs moved him into a tie with Taber Small (1999-2001) for second place in school history with 26…His six receptions tied a career high set on Aug. 30, 2003 against Indiana on Opening Day at Rentschler Field.
w Jonathon Smith (LB), Marvin Taylor (FS) and Nollis Dewar (WR) all made their first career starts today.
