University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Virginia
Turnovers Costly in 38-18 Loss at Virginia
9/16/2017 12:00:00 AM | Football
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Kurt Benkert passed for a school-record breaking 455 yards and Virginia avenged a heartbreak loss last season with a 38-18 victory over UConn on Saturday.
The Cavaliers (2-1) jumped out to a 24-0 halftime lead and never looked back. Kurt Benkert, a fifth-year senior, broke his own passing record of 421 yards set last season against Central Michigan with a 73-yard touchdown pass to Andre Levrone in the middle of the fourth quarter. Levrone finished with a career-high 127 yards on four catches.
The Huskies offense struggled to keep pace with the constant pressure of the Virginia front early. UConn (1-1) went 1 of 4 on red zone possessions - including two turnovers and a turnover-on-downs.
The UConn defense allowed three Cavalier receivers to rack up 100 yards or more. A feat that hadn't occirred since Oct. 1, 2011 vs. Western Michigan. Virginia was able to muster 626 yards against the Huskies.
UConn finally got on the scoreboard with Bryant Shirreffs' 60-yard touchdown pass to Hergy Mayala in the third. Mayala finished with two catches - both touchdowns - for 77 yards. He is the first Husky to catch two touchdown passes in a game since Noel Thomas vs. Houston on Nov. 21, 2015 vs. Houston.
Kevin Mensah rushed for a 30-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, his first touchdown of his career.
UConn will host East Carolina in its first of five straight American Conference matchups.
