University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Army
Huskies Headed to West Point Saturday Afternoon
11/18/2022 2:00:00 PM | Football
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: UConn Sports Network from Learfield - ESPN 97.9
STORRS, Conn. - The UConn Huskies close out the regular season on Saturday afternoon traveling to West Point to face the Army Black Knights at historic Michie Stadium. With a win on Sunday, the Huskies can extend their winning streak to four-straight and post the most wins since the 2010 season (8-5). Saturday's opening kick-off is scheduled for 12:02 pm on CBS Sports Network.
UConn is coming off an upset over No. 19 nationally ranked Liberty at home last weekend, 36-33, becoming bowl eligible for the first time since the 2015 season. The Huskies nabbed their fifth win in their last six and finished the season with a 5-1 record at home, the most wins at home since a 6-0 campaign in 2010. The Huskies also snapped a 10-game losing streak against nationally ranked opponents that dated back to 2015 (W, 20-17 vs. #13 Houston).
Grad-student fullback Robert Burns racked-up a career-high 104 yards on 11 carries and scored a touchdown for his first career 100-yard game to help lead the Huskies past the Flames. Freshman Victor Rosa ran for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Freshman quarterback Zion Turner led the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter, hitting r-sophomore Kevens Clercius on a 30-yard scoring strike with 5:43 left to give the Huskies the lead for good.
The Husky defense continues to improve week to week and has been among the nation's leaders at creating turnovers this season. UConn is ranked 14th in the nation in turnovers gained with 20 on the year and are 39th with a +5 turnover margin. Linebacker Jackson Mitchell has five fumble recoveries, the most for any player in the country this season, and recorded his first career touchdown after a scoop and score against Liberty. Senior cornerback Tre Wortham has four interceptions this season and ranks 10th in the NCAA in interceptions. Â
Mitchell is the Huskies top-tackler and is second in the country in total tackles with 117 stops this season. He is ranked ninth in tackles per game at 10.6. Mitchell eclipsed 300 career tackles after making nine stops in last Saturday's win over Liberty, sitting at 302 over his three seasons and 33 games played. He has 8.0 tackles for a loss, 4.5 sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries on the season as well. He is a semifinalist for the 2022 Butkus Award.
Junior defensive end Eric Watts is enjoying a break-out season for the Huskies and has 40 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles on the season, all career-best numbers. Watts is currently ranked 25th in the NCAA in sacks. R-Freshman Pryce Yates has been a force on the defensive line as well, registering 37 tackles, 7.0 for a loss with 3.5 sacks. The two have helped anchor a defensive front that has recorded 18 of the Huskies 25 sacks on the year. Sophomore Colin McCarthy has chipped in 3.0 sacks, sophomore Jelani Stafford has 2.0, r-sophomore Dal'mont Gourdine has 1.5 and r-junior Sokoya McDuffie has 1.0.
Offensively, the Huskies rely heavily on their running game and the UConn rushing attack continues to climb in the national rankings and after 11 games ranks 35th in the NCAA averaging 189.5 yards per game. The Huskies have gone over 200-plus yards rushing yards as a team in five games and are coming off a 209 yards against Liberty. Rosa has seen his workload steadily increase over the season and has a team-high 117 carries for 450 yards. Against Liberty, he ran it 10 times for 63 yards and two scores. Rosa has a team-best eight touchdowns on the year, ranked 49th nationally for rushing touchdowns
Burns became the third Husky running back this season to post a 100-yard game in last week's win and has had double digit carries in four-straight games. On the season has 355 yards rushing on 63 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. Â
Sophomore wide receiver Aaron Tuner hauled in a career-high 10 passes for 66 yards in the win over Liberty. Turner has caught a pass in every game this season and leads the team with 47 receptions for 419 yards and three scores. Turner has caught 80 balls over his two seasons and 23 games at UConn. Classmate Kevens Clercius hauled in his first touchdown catch of the season, a 30-yard hook-up from Zion Turner in the fourth quarter for the go-ahead score against Liberty. Clercius is second on the club with 21 catches and averages 12.1 yards per catch.
