The Secret Ingredient
Down by 28, third string QB Rivero and UConn pull off improbable comeback to down #5 Buckeyes in the 'Shoe
The game-winning fumble six forced by Jake Crowder (left) and returned and scored by Marcus Bradford (center, right) helped seal UConn's miraculous second-half comeback.
Winning in Ohio Stadium is reward enough. Stun and draw the ire of one of college football's largest fanbase? Bob Diaco wants nothing more.
To come back from down 35-7 with a third string QB in Ohio Stadium, facing the #5 Buckeyes, who have serious national title aspirations? Even better.
It was already a good day for UConn before it started, as they received Coach Bob Diaco and DE
Sam Rourke back from the suspension that cost the team (arguably) a win and a few scholarships. Getting Coach alone could have made the difference for a struggling UConn offense and a defense that has been average.
While everything clicked late, unfortunately it wasn't meant to be early. In fact, UConn blinked and found themselves down 35-7.
From the opening kick, Ohio State had complete control of the game, taking only four plays to reach the end zone after Heisman candidate
Brandon Williams rumbled for gains of 15 and 44 before a 4 yard TD scamper.
A fumble after the catch from UConn fullback
Alfred Hart sent all the momentum to Ohio State and their raucous capacity crowd.
Will Iamiello's recovery set up a Williams run to the UConn 9 yard line and a touchdown toss from
Steven Balchiar to
Keldron Lloyd the next play. 14-0 Ohio State 76 seconds into the contest.
Even though UConn got a 4 yard rush TD from this week's QB roulette winner
Isaac Jackson and the ball back after a quick OSU three and out, Jackson immediately threw an INT to
Ryan Dixon that was returned all the way to stretch the Buckeye lead to 21-7. Instead of potentially a tie game, UConn found themselves in a hole.
Ryan Dixon picks off Jackson for a pick six.
That hole got progressively deeper as the lead escalated to 35-7 early in the second quarter after a one yard Balchiar draw and a short TD pass to tight end
William Thompson.
With essentially nothing to lose, Diaco elected to turn to the bench early, bringing in
Tanner Dean-Lowry at QB to try to right the ship, even if a little. While UConn did get a touchdown toward the end of the first half, a 32 yard strike to
Jeff Matthews, TDL actually threw another INT that was (luckily) not scored off of.
Evlen Johnson's pick set up Ohio State 32 yards from paydirt, and though they got inside the 15, placekicker
Kevin Delastonte, normally a very accurate kicker, pushed his 30 yard try wide right.
Following a second interception right after the half (to Iamiello), TDL, complaining of pain near his chest, exited the game having thrown only eight passes. Instead of going back to an inefficient I-Jax, Diaco turned to fifth year senior and third string QB
Jarrett Rivero off the bench.
Keep in mind that this kid
walked on to UConn five years ago. The odds were slim for the young kid from Torrington, CT, but this was finally his time to shine. Did he ever.
But he'd have to wait briefly. Balchiar capped off a quick three play drive by taking a read option 21 yards for another Buckeye TD to extend the lead to a seemingly insurmountable 42-14.
Luckily for UConn, all was not lost. Rivero's first act was a successful one. After getting some help converting a fourth down from
Luke Williamson (another 100+ yard rushing day), hitting
Rashad Harris for 36 and then cornerback/fullback/wide receiver
Kyler Parks from 11 yards out to move to within three TD's.
Jarrett Rivero was the catalyst behind UConn's comeback.
Despite Ohio State running Williams well (he would end with 123 yards), Buckeye coach Urban Meyer was intent on throwing the ball despite being up big. Unfortunately, that didn't pay off as after having a
Vince Calton first down catch called off due to offensive pass interference, Balchiar got sacked by sophomore
John Cox to end a promising drive that set UConn up in good field position.
After picking up 38 yards on three Williamson carries, Rivero hit the young running back on a wheel route from 16 yards away to pull to 42-28. 90 seconds later, UConn was within a touchdown after Cox forced Balchiar to cough up the ball on a read option and
Sammie Leonard recovered at the Ohio State 18.
Carlton Parker finished off the drive with a five yard TD run.
Into the fourth, Rivero tied the game to cap a 28-0 run on a 29 yard read option run, getting great blocking from the wide receivers and tight ends in doing so.
The stunned Buckeyes were able to get a long Delastonte field goal to go up 45-42, and UConn matched two minutes later, but you couldn't deny that Ohio State's offense was still floundering in the second half as Meyer's refusal to run Williams and instead throw with the young Balchiar was starting to pay negative dividends.
So when Ohio State had 2:40 to march downfield and score, the boiling point struck in Columbus. Balchiar fired a quick screen to the right toward fellow sophomore Calton, who was immediately met and hit hard by corner
Jake Crowder. The ball popped free and was scooped up instantly by UConn's star linebacker
Marcus Bradford, who was able to jog the remaining 25 yards home to take the lead for UConn. After a day spent trailing in hostile territory, UConn had finally snatched the lead.
Fortunately, they wouldn't let it go. Williams was held short on OSU's next drive, and deep in their territory they were forced to punt. Luke Williamson was able to gain enough for a first down and lock up the game and seal one of the most improbable comebacks in recent memory.
An elated Diaco embraced Rivero and his team on the sidelines, getting the celebratory Gatorade bath after the clock hit triple zeros. Instead of lying down, getting blown out and falling to a dismal 1-2, UConn found their guy, fought back and moved to 2-1.
Who would've guessed it'd be the former walk-on who was the missing piece? The secret ingredient, if you will.
We stay on the road next week for Indiana to wrap up the Big 10 Heritage series for this year. See ya then. If you can, feel free to bring a QB.
Vince Calton coughs up the ball on what would be the game-winning fumble return for UConn.| Connecticut Huskies at Ohio State Buckeyes |
| Sep 14, 2019 | 1ST | 2ND | 3RD | 4TH | SCORE |
| Connecticut Huskies (2-1) | 7 | 7 | 21 | 17 | 52 |
| #5 Ohio State Buckeyes (2-1) | 28 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 45 |
| Team Stats Comparison |
| CONN | OSU |
| Total Offense | 536 | 391 |
| Rushing Yards | 185 | 178 |
| Passing Yards | 351 | 213 |
| First Downs | 22 | 19 |
| Punt Return Yards | 83 | 25 |
| Kick Return Yards | 59 | 37 |
| Total Yards | 678 | 453 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 2 |
| 3rd Down Converstion | 4-12 | 2-10 |
| 4th Down Conversion | 2-2 | 0-0 |
| 2-Point Conversion | 0-0 | 0-0 |
| Red Zone Touchdowns/Field Goals | 4-1 (100%) | 4-0 (80%) |
| Penalties | 1-5 | 1-10 |
| Posession Time | 17:58 | 14:02 |
| Scoring Summary |
| FIRST QUARTER SCORING | CONN | OSU |
| 7:28 | (OSU) Williams 4 run (Delastonte kick) | 0 | 7 |
| 6:44 | (OSU) Balchiar 9 pass Lloyd (Delastonte kick) | 0 | 14 |
| 4:51 | (CONN) Jackson 4 run (Miller kick) | 7 | 14 |
| 3:41 | (OSU) Dixon INT return 33 yds (Delastonte kick) | 7 | 21 |
| :43 | (OSU) Balchiar 1 run (Delastonte kick) | 7 | 28 |
| SECOND QUARTER SCORING | CONN | OSU |
| 4:03 | (OSU) Balchiar 5 pass Thompson (Delastonte kick) | 7 | 35 |
| 2:38 | (CONN) Dean-Lowry 32 pass Matthews (Miller kick) | 14 | 35 |
| THIRD QUARTER SCORING | CONN | OSU |
| 6:52 | (OSU) Balchiar 21 run (Delastonte kick) | 14 | 42 |
| 5:07 | (CONN) Rivero 11 pass Parks (Miller kick) | 21 | 42 |
| 2:16 | (CONN) Rivero 16 pass Williamson (Miller kick) | 28 | 42 |
| :57 | (CONN) Parker 5 run (Miller kick) | 35 | 42 |
| FOURTH QUARTER SCORING | CONN | OSU |
| 6:44 | (CONN) Rivero 29 run (Miller kick) | 42 | 42 |
| 4:54 | (OSU) Delastonte 53 FG | 42 | 45 |
| 2:54 | (CONN) Miller 29 FG | 45 | 45 |
| 2:40 | (OSU) Bradford returned fumble 25 yds (Miller kick) | 45 | 52 |
| Connecticut Huskies | | PASSING | C/A | YDS | TD | INT | | Jarrett Rivero | 7-11 | 102 | 2 | 0 | | Tanner Dean-Lowry | 4-8 | 97 | 1 | 2 | | Isaac Jackson | 10-21 | 152 | 0 | 1 | | RUSHING | ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | | Luke Williamson | 24 | 123 | 5.1 | 0 | | Carlton Parker | 5 | 10 | 2.0 | 1 | | Jarrett Rivero | 4 | 42 | 10.5 | 1 | | Isaac Jackson | 3 | 14 | 4.6 | 1 | | RECEIVING | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | | Jeff Matthews | 6 | 119 | 19.8 | 1 | | Rashad Harris | 4 | 65 | 16.2 | 0 | | Rodney Reid | 3 | 42 | 14.0 | 0 | | Luke Williamson | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 1 | | DEFENSE | TACK (TFL) | SACK | INT | TD | | John Cox | 10 (3) | 1 | 0 | 0 | | Kyler Parks | 5 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Sam Rourke | 4 (2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| | Ohio State Buckeyes | | PASSING | C/A | YDS | TD | INT | | Steven Balchiar | 23-32 | 213 | 2 | 0 | | RUSHING | ATT | YDS | AVG | TD | | Brandon Williams | 22 | 123 | 5.5 | 1 | | Steven Balchiar | 9 | 52 | 5.7 | 2 | | RECEIVING | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | | Vince Calton | 7 | 82 | 11.7 | 0 | | William Thompson | 7 | 35 | 5.0 | 1 | | Brandon Williams | 5 | 33 | 6.6 | 0 | | Keldron Lloyd | 1 | 9 | 9.0 | 1 | | DEFENSE | TACK (TFL) | SACK | INT | TD | | Ryson Blades | 9 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | | Ryan Dixon | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | | Will Iamiello | 6 (1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | | Christian McLaughlin | 6 (1) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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Oh you would've wanted to come to this game. Haha.