UConn Edges Scarlet Knights In Shootout

[DJRamFan]

Cornell Brockington's three-TD performance led the Huskies

Nov. 25, 2004

By TOM CANAVAN
AP Sports Writer


PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) - Dan Orlovsky threw three touchdowns and Connecticut strengthened its postseason bowl credentials with a wild 41-35 victory over Rutgers on Thursday.

Tight end Dan Murray caught touchdown passes of 32 and 3 yards and halfback Cornell Brockington ran for two more and caught another scoring pass for the Huskies (7-4, 3-3 Big East).

Chris Bellamy also scored on 2-yard run as Connecticut won its second straight and sent Rutgers (4-7, 1-5) to its fifth straight loss in a season that began with hopes of a first bowl bid since 1978.

Connecticut now finds itself in good position to go to a bowl in only its third season with a full complement of scholarship players.

The Big East is in the BCS mix and it has agreements with the Gator Bowl, the Continental Tire Bowl and the Insight Bowl.

Tres Moses capped a record season at Rutgers, scoring on touchdown passes of 87 and 16 yards. He finished with seven catches for 168 yards.







Brian Leonard ran for a touchdown and Willie Foster made the game interesting with an 80-yard kickoff return for a score with 2:14 to play.

The touchdown that closed the gap to 41-35 came just 14 seconds after Orlovsky seemingly sealed the game with a 3-yard TD pass to Murray.

A 32-yard TD pass to Murray late in the third quarter had snapped a 28-28 tie and given the Huskies the lead for good.

Connecticut outgained 489 yards to 454 with Orlovsky finishing 19-of-30 for 264 yards and two interceptions.

Rutgers quarterback Ryan Hart was 26-of-33 for 279 yards and two TDs, including a 13-yarder to Marcus Daniels that tied the game at 21 just before halftime.

Scarlet Knights backup quarterback Terrence Shawell threw the 87-yard scoring pass to Moses, who set school records for catches (81) and yards (1,056).

Before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the second half, Brockington staked Connecticut to a 21-7 lead by scoring on runs of 1 and 5 yards and taking a 16-yard screen pass for another tally.

The score seemed to put Rutgers on the ropes, but Moses resurrected the Scarlet Knights' hopes by hauling in a pass by Shawell and scoring on an 87-yard pass play to cut the lead to 21-14 just 31 seconds after Brockington's catch.

An interception by cornerback Joe Porter gave Rutgers the ball back at its 41 with 2:33 to play in the half. A 26-yard third-down scramble by Shawell, who was hurt on the play, set up Hart's TD pass to Daniels.