EAST HARTFORD — UConn’s football team, led by Cam Edwards, offered a parting gift to those who came out to support them all season.
Edwards rushed for 150 yards in the second half, and the Huskies completed an undefeated home season with a 26-16 win over a rugged Air Force team before 31,457 Saturday at Rentschler Field.
Air Force moved the ball steadily on the ground, dominating in time of possession in the first half, but proved too one-dimensional to drive home an upset threat. During one possession, the Falcons held the ball nearly 12 minutes and moved the ball 91 yards, but were thwarted on downs two yards short of the goal line.
Meanwhile, UConn’s Joe Fagnano ran for a touchdown, but did not have his usual passing efficiency, completing 15 of 23 for 155 yards, throwing his first interception of the year, but the Huskies re-established their running game, with Norwalk’s Edwards gaining 165 yards on 24 carries to blow past the 1,000-yard mark for the season, scoring runs of eight and five yards in the second half. With 1,031 yards, he’s the program’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Kevin Mensah in 2019.
UConn (8-3), with all its losses in overtime on the road, finishes the regular season at Florida International next week. With six wins in six games at Rentschler, UConn had its first unbeaten home season since 2010, the year the Huskies won the Big East title and went to the Fiesta Bowl. They are bowl eligible for the third time in four seasons under Jim Mora, and increased the chances of playing in a more prestigious bowl in 2025.
Edwards, limited to 15 yards on four carries as Air Force held the ball for most of the first half, exploded for more than 100 yards in the second half, putting the game away.
After stopping Air Force on three plays and a short punt to start the game, UConn’s offense started on the Falcons’ 40. Fagnano hooked up with favorite target Skyler Bell on a signature catch-and-run to reach the red zone, then on 3rd-and-goal, Fagnano scrambled 10 yards and dove at the pylon, the TD call upheld after review. Thanks to a bad snap, UConn did not get the extra point.
On its second series, Air Force (3-7) attacked the vulnerable center of the Huskies’ defense with a run-dominated drive that lasted 10 plays and 75 yards with Dylan Carson scoring on a 6-yard run. The PAT gave the Falcons a 7-6 lead.
Then Fagnano’s long streak without an interception came to an end with Max Mustell making the pick of a deep ball and returning it across midfield. The UConn quarterback had thrown 379 passes since his last interception from scrimmage, dating back to last season. His defense picked him up, holding Air Force on downs.
Air Force gained possession after a long Conor Stutz punt at its own 7-yard line, and held the ball for 19 plays and 11:50, but did not score as the Huskies stiffened and stuffed the Falcons’ running game at the goal line. Malachi McLean stopped quarterback Liam Szarka on 4th-and-goal at the two with five minutes left in the half.
UConn’s passing game just wasn’t clicking in the cold, blustery conditions and Stutz had to punt from the end zone, Air Force regaining the ball at midfield. When the Falcons missed a 53-yard field attempt, the Huskies got field position and attacked with Bristol’s Victor Rosa re-emerging as a weapon catching the ball out of the backfield. A long gain by Rosa was negated by a holding penalty, and a TD catch and run by Reymello Murphy by an illegal formation, and the Huskies had to settle for a long field goal try. Chris Freeman connected from 47 yards for a 9-7 lead going into the half, despite possessing the ball only 5:59 of the 30 minutes.
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Getting the ball to start the second half, UConn established the run as Edwards barreled over the 900-yard mark for the season, and finished the 79-yard drive with an 8-yard run to extend the Huskies’ lead to 16-7. Air Force resumed the ground and pound offense and positioned Reagan Tubbs for a 36-yard field goal to get back within one score, but the Huskies responded in kind and Freeman’s second field goal restored the lead to nine points as the fourth quarter began.
Edwards’ second TD capped another long drive, 10 plays, 84 yards, with 5:28 to go.