UConn survives in overtime
Brown's TD wins it as Temple puts up a fight
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Donald Brown rushed for a career-high 214 yards on a rain-soaked field and scored the winning touchdown in overtime to lead Connecticut to a 12-9 victory over Temple yesterday before a crowd of 3,000 in Philadelphia.
Brown held on to the slick ball all game and finally burst through into the end zone on a 7-yard run on UConn's first possession in overtime. He helped the Huskies (2-0) overcome sloppy play and missed field goals that had them trailing, 6-0, entering the fourth quarter.
Jake Brownell kicked three field goals, including a 21-yarder in OT, for the Owls. Temple was denied its first 2-0 start since 1981.
The teams did almost nothing but run, especially in the second half when heavy rain all but kept the ball out of the air.
Brown did more than enough to bail out the Huskies - and they needed the help.
Temple coach Al Golden put too much faith in his developing Owls, and they went for it on fourth and 1 at their 35 and the score tied late in the fourth. Lamar McPherson's rush came up short, and the Huskies had an opportunity to take the lead.
Tony Ciaravino - who missed two field goals in the first half - this time missed a 47-yard attempt with 2:33 left in the game. Ciaravino did kick a 37-yarder earlier in the fourth that tied the score at 6.
Sacred Heart 21, Bentley 10 - Dale Fink threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as the Pioneers knocked off the Falcons in a nonconference game at Fairfield, Conn.
John White, who was sacked six times, threw for 330 yards, completing 27 of 50 passes for Bentley, which turned the ball over five times (three fumbles, two interceptions).
WPI 34, UMass-Dartmouth 28 - Quarterback Justin Wells scored on a 2-yard run in the fifth overtime to give the visiting Engineers the victory in the longest game in the history of both programs.
The Corsairs, who trailed at halftime, 20-6, rallied to score twice in the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime.
North Dakota St. 50, Central Conn. 14 - Nick Mertens threw for 186 yards and three touchdowns and the No. 1-ranked Bison raced to a 40-0 lead and coasted past the visiting Blue Devils.
James Mallory carried 17 times for 116 yards for Central Connecticut.
Norwich 34, Mount Ida 28 - Darnell Jackson rushed for a pair of 11-yard touchdowns and the Cadets scored 21 points in the third quarter in a come-from-behind, nonconference victory in Newton.
Rowan 24, Bridgewater St. 14 - Frank Wilczynski threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to power the Profs past the host Bears, who turned the ball over four times.
Bryant 39, Southern Conn. 36 -- Junior Jerell Smith rushed for a career-high 221 yards on 34 carries to help the host Bulldogs to a nonconference win over the Owls.
Merrimack 42, Husson 7 - Kurt Leone passed for 334 yards and three TDs as the host Warriors routed the Eagles, giving new coach John Perry his first win.
Pace 27, Assumption 20 - The Setters intercepted five Greyhound passes, including one for a touchdown by linebacker Max Katzner that provided the winning margin in a Northeast-10 game in Pleasantville, N.Y.
Plymouth St. 36, Saint Anselm 28 - Jeff Mack rushed for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns and quarterback John DeMarco also had a pair of rushing TDs as the host Panthers beat the Hawks in a nonconference game.
MIT 42, Maine Maritime 39 - Robert Utz capped a 13-play drive with a 7-yard touchdown run with 43 seconds remaining to give the Engineers the victory in a roller coaster MASCAC game at Portland, Maine.
Framingham St. 25, Endicott 20 - Senior quarterback Bruce Rich rushed for a 23-yard touchdown with 24 seconds remaining to give the host Rams their first victory over the Gulls, and first in an opener since 2005.
Hartwick 63, WNEC 37 - Jason Boltus completed 20 of 40 passes for 392 yards and seven touchdowns as the Hawks rolled over the Golden Bears in Oneonta, N.Y.
Becker 26, Utica 13 - Gabriel Prophet passed for two scores and rushed for another to help the Hawks upend the visiting Pioneers.
