Villanova falls to UConn in season opener, 20-15

EAT HARTFORD, Conn. - As it turned out, Connecticut got more than it bargained for when it scheduled Villanova to open the 2015 season.

The Huskies program, after its Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2011, was on the upswing, and perhaps a game against an old rival, despite the Wildcats' perennial FCS success, seemed safe enough when it was scheduled. But times and conference alignments have changed, and UConn found itself in a heck of a scrap last night.

"What you're hoping to do," Villanova coach Andy Talley said, "is get a I-A team into the fourth quarter, where, all of a sudden they go, 'Oh, man, we could lose this game.' And I think that's where we had UConn. We had UConn in the fourth quarter saying, 'Oh, jeez, these guys are playing really good. We have to buckle down.' "

In the end, the Huskies prevailed, 20-15, before 26,113 at Rentschler Field in the first meeting between the schools since 1999, before UConn made its jump up to Division I-A. But Villanova had the Huskies sweating and their fans squirming to the final seconds.

John Robertson, last year's Walter Payton Award winner, threw for a touchdown and ran for one with 1:45 left, before UConn finally closed out Villanova, ranked fourth in FCS.

"We came in here to win the game," Robertson said. "We weren't looking for moral victories."

Villanova has a 3-17 record since 1988 against the NCAA's top tier, but the Wildcats have rarely been overmatched, as evidenced by their double-OT loss to Syracuse a year ago. With this venture to Connecticut to renew an old Yankee Conference and Atlantic 10 rivalry, they showed characteristic toughness. UConn coach Bob Diaco had called Villanova a "buzzsaw" during the week.

Robertson completed 17 of 32 passes for 153 yards and a TD, and rushed 18 times for 66 yards. The Wildcats, though limited in the second half when running back Gary Underwood left the game with a dislocated shoulder, converted nine of 17 third downs to stay on the field and in the game offensively.

"We needed to play a better game offensively than we did," Talley said. "We were able to move the ball at times, and we were happy with that. But three turnovers didn't help us. That will do you in against any team."

Villanova played 38 men, while UConn was able to use more than 50 players on a hot, muggy night, but had to fight for every yard, and every stop.

"It's satisfying knowing we gave it all we had," said Wildcats linebacker Austin Calitro, who was back in his home state. "They were playing a lot more guys than us, and we knew that coming in."

After 'Nova took a 9-6 lead into halftime, UConn opened the second half with a big play, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs hitting tight end Tommy Myers for a 69-yard catch-and run. Ron Johnson's 1-yard plunge and the PAT put the Huskies back on top, 13-9.

The 'Cats were moving toward a potential go-ahead score midway through the fourth quarter when Robertson, trying to convert a fourth-and-1 with a sneak, fumbled and stumbled into the line and the Huskies took over on downs at their 36-yard line with 8:45 left.

Only then were the Huskies able to feel relatively safe on their home turf, as Shirreffs hit Arkeel Newsome for 27 yards and a touchdown to finish the 64-yard drive, giving UConn a 20-9 lead. Shirreffs, a transfer from North Carolina State, finished with 202 yards passing.

After Villanova scored on its next possession but failed on the two-point conversion attempt, the Huskies were at last able to run out the remaining time.

"Credit to Villanova," Diaco said. "They are a great team and are going to win a ton of games. They have a great quarterback and are a class outfit."

Said Talley: "We were able to play four quarters and play physical. "We were spent, we played as hard as we could."