<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=29DCqg_0vxGlSKK00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=29DCqg_0vxGlSKK00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>It was the ultimate football ending. Saturday’s matchup between the Temple Owls and Connecticut Huskies came down to the thinnest of margins — one yard.Trailing 23-20 as double-digit underdogs in East Hartford, CT, all the Owls needed to pull off the upset was move the ball a couple feet on 4th and goal with three seconds remaining. In true Philadelphia fashion, Temple lined up in the Eagles’ signature “tush push” formation with nine players bunched tightly around quarterback Forrest Brock and one man trailing behind in the backfield.The snap occurred, and then Temple’s backfield provided Brock an assist toward the white goal line — a line which separated victory and defeat. But before the quarterback broke the plane to complete the upset bid, the ball popped loose and rolled backward. The pigskin then laid on the 4-yard line for a second which seemed like an eternity. That’s when UConn cornerback Jordan Wright scooped up the ball and raced 96 yards the other way in celebratory fashion.On a play which featured a high probability of a Temple touchdown, UConn scored instead, walking away with a 29-20 victory after winning the ultimate battle in the trenches.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true" align="center">UCONN UCONN UCONN!!! Fumble recovered and returned for 96 yards to seal the deal! <a href="https://t.co/c8QrFPRSeM">pic.twitter.com/c8QrFPRSeM</a>— UConn Football (@UConnFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/UConnFootball/status/1842708021866385822?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 5, 2024</a><input type="image" src="empty.gif" style="opacity:0" onerror="s=document.createElement(&quot;script&quot;);s.src=&quot;https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js&quot;;document.body.appendChild(s);"></blockquote>That wasn’t UConn’s only goal line stand. The Huskies also stalled the Owls’ offense one play prior, stopping Antwain Littleton on the 1-yard line in a clutch defensive effort. In the final two minutes and change, Temple ran eight plays inside the UConn 20 but the Huskies didn’t budge, preventing the Owls from scoring a point on the game-deciding sequence.Temple’s goal line misfortune was a microcosm of the game, as the Owls consistently came up empty-handed in plus territory. When possessing the ball on UConn’s side of the 50, Temple punted twice, missed a 32-yard field goal, and threw an interception — all before falling a yard short at the buzzer.It was overall a sloppy matchup as both teams exchanged three turnovers and punted a combined 15 times. One of those punts included a blocked punt in the second quarter which provided the first touchdown of the day, pushing Temple ahead 7-3 in the first half.Although special teams was UConn’s downfall in the first 30 minutes of action, it was also its saving grace. The Huskies claimed a 9-7 halftime lead thanks to a trio of Chris Freeman field goals and didn’t even register their first touchdown until the third quarter. Temple responded in the field goal department after halftime with a pair of Maddux Trujillo long shots. The kicker — who drained a 64-yarder earlier this year — sunk attempts from 60 and 42 yards in the third quarter, becoming the only FBS player to hit from 60+ twice this season.UConn finally notched the first offensive touchdown by either team with 2:11 to go in the third quarter as Joe Fagnano — starting for the injured Nick Evers — connected with TJ Sheffield for a 58-yard score. The home run play ignited an offensive-oriented finish as the teams traded leads twice in the final frame. Temple claimed a 20-16 lead with 9:52 remaining as Brock — starting for the injured Evan Simon — rushed for an 8-yard touchdown. Then the Huskies responded with 3:46 to go on a Durell Robinson rushing touchdown.Robinson led UConn’s typically high-powered ground attack with 52 yards. However, UConn collectively only averaged 2.4 yards per carry Saturday and the inability to generate anything on the ground was the great equalizer, as Temple nearly pulled off the upset in Connecticut. Fagnano’s arm served as the primary source of offense as the quarterback registered 272 yards on 41 attempts, surviving two interceptions to guide the Huskies to their third-straight victory.UConn (4-2, Independent) is 4-2 through six games for the first time since 2009. The Huskies are halfway through a six-game homestand, winning three consecutive matchups for the second time under Jim Mora Jr., also accomplishing the feat in the latter half of 2022. After a thrilling victory, UConn takes a week of rest before resuming action Oct. 19 vs. Wake Forest.Temple (1-5, 0-2 AAC) remains a winless 0-3 away from Philadelphia this season. The Owls seek a drastic midseason turnaround as they remain on the hunt for their first bowl trip since 2019. A bye week awaits, and then Temple continues AAC play on Oct. 19 when Tulsa visits the City of Brotherly Love.</div></body>

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UConn survives Temple tush push, 29-20, in bizarre, off-the-rails finish

It was the ultimate football ending. Saturday’s matchup between the Temple Owls and Connecticut Huskies came down to the thinnest of margins — one yard. Trailing 23-20 as double-digit underdogs in East Hartford, CT, all the Owls needed to pull off the upset was move the ball a couple feet on 4th and goal with three seconds remaining. In true Philadelphia fashion, Temple lined up in the Eagles’ signature “tush push” formation with nine players bunched tightly around quarterback Forrest Brock and one man trailing behind in the backfield.

UConn survives Temple tush push, 29-20, in bizarre, off-the-rails finish

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