Final
Devine rallies No. 22 WVU past UConn 28-24
Oct 25, 2009 - 2:23 AM By JOHN RABY AP Sports WriterMORGANTOWN, W.Va.(AP) -- Connecticut nearly pulled out a win for Jasper Howard.
Noel Devine's 56-yard touchdown run in the closing minutes lifted No. 22 West Virginia to a 28-24 win over the Huskies on Saturday in the Huskies' first game since the starting cornerback was fatally stabbed outside a university-sponsored dance a week ago.
Devine ran for 171 of his 178 yards in the second half as West Virginia (6-1, 2-0 Big East) overcame the inspired play of the Huskies (4-3, 1-2).
"That's what football is all about - making big plays when your teammates need you," Devine said.
The determined Huskies outgained the Mountaineers 501-387. Sophomore quarterback Cody Endres threw for a career-high 378 yards and two scores. Marcus Easley caught five passes for a career-high 157 yards, including an 88-yard TD.
"We really wanted to go out and get this win for Jazz, but we came up short," Easley said.
Connecticut was done in by its own second-half miscues. David Teggart missed two field goal tries, and a fumble and three interceptions ended other promising drives.
UConn coach Randy Edsall will fly his team to Howard's funeral Monday in Miami.
"I just feel empty," Edsall said. "The kids played their hearts out and did what we asked them to do. This is a special group of kids. We've got to take this and just learn how to play like this all the time."
West Virginia's Jarrett Brown, returning from a mild concussion sustained last week against Marshall, ran for one score and threw for another. He also threw the lead block that sprang Devine on a 62-yard run late in the third quarter, setting up Brown's 1-yard TD toss to Tyler Urban.
Kent Richardson returned one of Endres' picks 47 yards but fumbled the ball away deep in UConn territory. Endres then found Easley on a crossing route and he went down the left sideline to put the Huskies ahead 24-21 with 3:50 left.
After Devine hugged the right sideline on the go-ahead scoring run with 2:10 left, UConn drove to the West Virginia 33 before Chris Neild intercepted Endres on fourth down.
It was the third time this season that Connecticut couldn't hold a late lead.
"We just couldn't make one more play at the end," Edsall said. "It was a case where we had some big plays against us and some missed opportunities offensively. I'm so proud of these coaches and players, especially the players, for the way they came out and played this game."
Tavon Austin took the opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, the first time that's happened for West Virginia since 2006. But the Mountaineers accomplished little else until late in the first half, thanks in part to UConn's relentless blitz.
Brown struggled early. He was intercepted on the Mountaineers' third offensive possession and recovered his own fumble on the next series.
It took Brown seven series to find his rhythm. He avoided three tackles and completed a 23-yard pass to Alric Arnett, then found Jock Sanders on a screen pass for a 31-yard gain that set up Brown's 5-yard scoring run.
UConn needed just three plays after Frey returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to take a 17-14 halftime lead. Endres, who completed 25 of 41 passes, threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Moore, who had held Howard in his arms after the stabbing and helped carry Howard's helmet and jersey from the locker room before kickoff.
The crowd of 58,106 gave Connecticut a standing ovation when the team took the field. A moment of silence was held prior to kickoff and the teams exchanged handshakes. Players from both the teams wore stickers on their helmets in Howard's memory.
"I just couldn't stop thinking about him throughout the game," said UConn running back Andre Dixon.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
UCONN 7 10 0 7 24
WESTVIR 7 7 7 7 28 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: WEST VIRGI - TD, TAVON AUSTIN 98 YD KICKOFF
RETURN (TYLER BITANCURT
KICK), 0:14. WESTVIR 7-0
CONNECTICU - TD, JORDAN TODMAN 5 YD RUN (DAVE
TEGGART KICK), 9:14. UCONN 7-7
2ND QUARTER: CONNEC
Oct 24 3:22 PM - NCAAF
UCONN 24
WESTVIR 28 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Oct 24 3:22 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA NOEL DEVINE 56 YD RUN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 28 4th - 2:10Oct 24 3:13 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA NOEL DEVINE 56 YD RUN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 28 4th - 2:10Oct 24 3:13 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 24
WESTVIR 28 2:10 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 28 4th - 2:10Oct 24 3:13 PM
TD CONNECTICUT MARCUS EASLEY 88 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 21 4th - 3:50Oct 24 3:02 PM
TD CONNECTICUT MARCUS EASLEY 88 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 21 4th - 3:50Oct 24 3:02 PM
TD CONNECTICUT MARCUS EASLEY 88 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 21 4th - 3:50Oct 24 3:02 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 24
WESTVIR 21 3:50 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 21 4th - 3:50Oct 24 3:02 PM - 156
rootsRUWTbot Added 74 roots (Close Finish, Upset)
Connecticut 24, West Virginia(22) 21 4th - 3:50Oct 24 3:02 PM - 82
roots - 59
roots - NCAAF
UCONN 17
WESTVIR 21 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Oct 24 2:33 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TYLER URBAN 2 YD PASS FROM JARRETT BROWN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 21 3rd - 2:55Oct 24 2:23 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TYLER URBAN 2 YD PASS FROM JARRETT BROWN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 21 3rd - 2:55Oct 24 2:23 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TYLER URBAN 2 YD PASS FROM JARRETT BROWN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 21 3rd - 2:55Oct 24 2:23 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 17
WESTVIR 21 2:55 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 21 3rd - 2:55Oct 24 2:23 PM - NCAAF
UCONN 17
WESTVIR 14 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Oct 24 1:34 PM
TD CONNECTICUT KASHIF MOORE 17 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:20Oct 24 1:32 PM
TD CONNECTICUT KASHIF MOORE 17 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:20Oct 24 1:32 PM
TD CONNECTICUT KASHIF MOORE 17 YD PASS FROM CODY ENDRES (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:20Oct 24 1:32 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 17
WESTVIR 14 0:20 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Connecticut 17, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:20Oct 24 1:32 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA JARRETT BROWN 5 YD RUN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 10, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:48Oct 24 1:28 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA JARRETT BROWN 5 YD RUN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 10, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:48Oct 24 1:28 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 10
WESTVIR 14 0:48 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Connecticut 10, West Virginia(22) 14 2nd - 0:48Oct 24 1:28 PM - NCAAF
UCONN 10
WESTVIR 7 2:53 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Connecticut 10, West Virginia(22) 7 2nd - 2:53Oct 24 1:18 PM - NCAAF
UCONN 7
WESTVIR 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Oct 24 12:47 PM
TD CONNECTICUT JORDAN TODMAN 5 YD RUN (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 7, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 5:46Oct 24 12:36 PM
TD CONNECTICUT JORDAN TODMAN 5 YD RUN (DAVE TEGGART KICK)
Connecticut 7, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 5:46Oct 24 12:36 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 7
WESTVIR 7 5:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Connecticut 7, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 5:46Oct 24 12:36 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 98 YD KICKOFF RETURN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 0, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 14:46Oct 24 12:11 PM
TD WEST VIRGINIA TAVON AUSTIN 98 YD KICKOFF RETURN (TYLER BITANCURT KICK)
Connecticut 0, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 14:46Oct 24 12:11 PM- NCAAF
UCONN 0
WESTVIR 7 14:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Connecticut 0, West Virginia(22) 7 1st - 14:46Oct 24 12:11 PM - NCAAF
UCONN 0
WESTVIR 6 14:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Connecticut 0, West Virginia(22) 6 1st - 14:46Oct 24 12:11 PM
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