Spring Break
Weathering the storm
Justice not served as Huskies slip by Temple in overtime with Brown's touchdown run
Kevin Meacham
Issue date: 9/8/08 Section: Sports
PHILADELPHIA - On the first two plays in overtime, Donald Brown carried the ball for 10 yards, then eight yards. On the third, he barreled over a Temple defender, found daylight and made a last-gasp lunge for the goal line.
It was the game's only touchdown, and just about the prettiest play in an ugly game.
Pretty or not, though, UConn (2-0) was more than happy to escape with a 12-9 overtime win over Temple in front of a sparse, rain-soaked crowd at Lincoln Financial Field.
"We had to overcome a lot of adversity in the game," said head coach Randy Edsall. "Some turnovers, some missed field goals. But to go on the road and get a win … I'm proud as heck of these kids."
In a game defined by heavy downpours, which kept attendance and offense low, Brown was the offensive star, carrying for a career-high 214 yards on 36 carries. Despite Brown's production, the Huskies could not manage an offensive touchdown in 60 minutes of regulation.
"You can't really make any cuts [in the rain]," Brown said. "I felt a little sluggish at the beginning, but I felt fine by the second half."
So Brown had to take things into his own hands. The halfback's bruising trio of runs in the extra period erased all of UConn's mistakes that had come before. The Huskies turned the ball over twice and missed three field goals, forcing the defense to keep Temple in check.
They did, and then some - the Owls did not cross into UConn territory in the third or fourth quarters.
"We are talking about the reigning Big East champs and the No. 13 defense in the country," said Temple head coach Al Golden. "We knew what kind of game it was going to be. They are a tough, hard-nosed team and that's the way they conduct the game right now."
After falling behind 6-0, the Huskies rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter. UConn seemed to take control of the game when linebacker Greg Lloyd stopped Lamar McPherson short on fourth-and-one at the Temple 35 with 4:13 to play. But the Huskies missed their opportunity when kicker Tony Ciaravino missed a 47-yard field goal to the left.
It was the game's only touchdown, and just about the prettiest play in an ugly game.
Pretty or not, though, UConn (2-0) was more than happy to escape with a 12-9 overtime win over Temple in front of a sparse, rain-soaked crowd at Lincoln Financial Field.
"We had to overcome a lot of adversity in the game," said head coach Randy Edsall. "Some turnovers, some missed field goals. But to go on the road and get a win … I'm proud as heck of these kids."
In a game defined by heavy downpours, which kept attendance and offense low, Brown was the offensive star, carrying for a career-high 214 yards on 36 carries. Despite Brown's production, the Huskies could not manage an offensive touchdown in 60 minutes of regulation.
"You can't really make any cuts [in the rain]," Brown said. "I felt a little sluggish at the beginning, but I felt fine by the second half."
So Brown had to take things into his own hands. The halfback's bruising trio of runs in the extra period erased all of UConn's mistakes that had come before. The Huskies turned the ball over twice and missed three field goals, forcing the defense to keep Temple in check.
They did, and then some - the Owls did not cross into UConn territory in the third or fourth quarters.
"We are talking about the reigning Big East champs and the No. 13 defense in the country," said Temple head coach Al Golden. "We knew what kind of game it was going to be. They are a tough, hard-nosed team and that's the way they conduct the game right now."
After falling behind 6-0, the Huskies rallied to tie the game in the fourth quarter. UConn seemed to take control of the game when linebacker Greg Lloyd stopped Lamar McPherson short on fourth-and-one at the Temple 35 with 4:13 to play. But the Huskies missed their opportunity when kicker Tony Ciaravino missed a 47-yard field goal to the left.
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