University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
7-3 , 0-0
Duke
5-4 , 4-1
Huskies Take Down Blue Devils
11/8/2025 8:29:00 PM | Football
EAST HARTFORD, CT – UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano hit wideout Skyler Bell in the front left corner of the endzone with 1:58 left in the fourth quarter to lead the Huskies to a 37-34 win over the Duke Blue Devils in front of 38,106 at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field Saturday afternoon.
The Huskies improved to 7-3 on the season and remained unbeaten at home at 5-0 with the win. UConn finishes the season 2-1 against the ACC and have won three of their last four match-ups against the conference.
Bell recorded 11 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns, setting a new UConn school record for touchdown catches in a season (13). Fagnano completed 27 of 39 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns, adding 51 rushing yards on six carries to his offensive output.
UConn running back Cam Edwards rushed 15 times for 51 yards and scored a touchdown, while also catching four passes for 42 yards. On defense, linebacker Bryun Parham stood out with a career-high 16 tackles, an interception, and a strip-sack on the game's final drive to help secure the win for UConn.
Duke struck first in the opening quarter as the Blue Devils capitalized on their first possession with a 25-yard pass from Darian Mensah to Que'Sean Brown, followed by Nate Sheppard's 13-yard touchdown run at the 12:31 mark. UConn responded with a 70-yard drive, highlighted by Juice Vereen's 10-yard touchdown reception from Fagnano, tying the game at 7-7 at 9:03. UConn then took a 10-7 lead with a 29-yard field goal from Chris Freeman at the 6:12 mark.
The Blue Devils took the lead back early in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Andrel Anthony, making the score 14-10. The Huskies responded with a 73-yard drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano to Bell, reclaiming the lead at 17-14. Duke's subsequent drive was halted by a critical interception by Devin Pringle at the Duke 31-yard line. UConn capitalized on the turnover with Freeman converting a 45-yard field goal to extend their lead to 20-14 into the half.
In the third quarter, the Blue Devils took the lead with an opening drive that culminated in a 3-yard touchdown run by Sheppard at 10:13 to make it 21–20. UConn responded with a scoring drive of their own, highlighted by a 36-yard pass from Fagnano to Reymello Murphy, which set up a 20-yard field goal by Freeman, putting UConn ahead 23–21.
Duke regained momentum with another scoring drive, as Mensah connected with Landen King for a 1-yard touchdown pass on fourth down, with Pelino's extra point extending Duke's lead to 28–23.
In a tightly contested fourth quarter, UConn reclaimed the lead with an 11-play drive, culminating in a 3-yard touchdown run by Edwards at 10:48, making the score 29-28.
Duke hand an answer again, this time an 11-play drive of their own with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Mensah to Jeremiah Hasley at 5:34 to go ahead 34-29.
Fagnano then orchestrated a decisive 75-yard drive, highlighted by a fourth down conversion and then capped by a critical 19-yard touchdown pass to Bell with 1:58 remaining. After a successful two-point conversion by Fagnano, UConn led 37-34. On Duke's final drive, a sack and fumble by Parham on Mensah, recovered by UConn's Trent Jones, secured the victory for the Huskies as they kneeled out the win.
Duke running back Sheppard stood out with 100 yards on 16 carries and scoring two touchdowns. Mensah completed 22 of 31 passes for 222 yards and threw three touchdowns despite two interceptions.
The Huskies are back at home next Saturday, November 15 for Senior Day, playing host to the Air Force Falcons in a first-ever match-up between the two schools. Kick-off is scheduled for 12 noon.
Game Notes:
The Huskies got their first win over Duke since the 2007 season and improve to 3-2 all-time against the Blue Devils
UConn is now 10-29 all-time against teams from the ACC and have won three of their last four meetings with the league.
The Huskies are now 5-0 at home this season and 11-1 at The Rent over the last two years.
WR Skyler Bell has 13 touchdown catches this season, setting the UConn school record for TD grabs in a season. His 87 yards pushes him over 1,000 yards receiving for the season, becoming the 11th player in school history to hit the century mark receiving in a year.
His 11 catches marks his fourth game this season with double digit grabs. He has now also eclipsed 200 career catches between UConn and his time at Wisconsin.
RB Cam Edwards scored his 11th rushing touchdown of the season.
QB Joe Fagnano extended his streak to 11-straight games dating back to last season without an interception.
Team Stats
DUK 7, UC 0
DUK - Sheppard,Nate 13 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 01:05
DUK 7, UC 7
UC - Vereen,Juice 10 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 03:28
DUK 7, UC 10
UC - Freeman,Chris 29 yd field goal 6 plays, 16 yards, TOP 02:12
DUK 14, UC 10
DUK - Anthony,Andrel 10 yd pass from Mensah,Darian (Pelino,Todd kick) 8 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:38
DUK 14, UC 17
UC - Bell,Skyler 4 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Freeman,Chris kick) 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 06:21
DUK 14, UC 20
UC - Freeman,Chris 45 yd field goal 4 plays, 4 yards, TOP 00:19
DUK 21, UC 20
DUK - Sheppard,Nate 3 yd run (Pelino,Todd kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:47
DUK 21, UC 23
UC - Freeman,Chris 20 yd field goal 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:23
DUK 28, UC 23
DUK - King,Landen 1 yd pass from Mensah,Darian (Pelino,Todd kick) 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:41
DUK 28, UC 29
UC - Edwards,Cam 3 yd run (), 11 plays, 78 yards, TOP 06:15
DUK 34, UC 29
DUK - Hasley,Jeremiah 10 yd pass from Mensah,Darian () 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:09
DUK 34, UC 37
UC - Bell,Skyler 19 yd pass from Fagnano,Joe (Fagnano,Joe rush) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:36
