Middle Tennessee breaks away from UConn in 2nd half, 44-13

Oct 22, 2021, 6:45 AM | Updated: 6:48 pm

Middle Tennessee State's Jimmy Marshall, front left, scores a touchdown while Connecticut's Jeremy Lucien, right, defends in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

(Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

Connecticut interim head coach Lou Spanos, right, speaks with officials in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee State, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

Connecticut's Brandon Niemenski, right, scores a touchdown against Middle Tennessee State in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

Middle Tennessee State quarterback Chase Cunningham looks to throw against Connecticut in the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

Connecticut quarterback Steven Krajewski looks to throw in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Middle Tennessee State, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, in East Hartford, Conn. (Jessica Hill/Hartford Courant via AP)

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Chase Cunningham passed for 297 yards and four touchdowns, Middle Tennessee scored in every quarter and defeated UConn 44-13 on Friday night.

Cunningham had racked up 182 yards and three touchdowns in the first half — including scoring strikes of 25 and 18 yards to Izaiah Gathings and Jimmy Marshall, respectively, on Middle Tennessee’s final two possessions before halftime to lead 24-13 at the break.

UConn (1-8) had scrapped into a 10-10 tie on a short pass from Steven Krajewski to tight end Brandon Niemenski and a career-long 47-yard field goal by freshman Joe McFadden on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter.

After Middle Tennessee (3-4) broke away with two unanswered touchdowns in less than three minutes, the lead was never threatened again. Cunningham threw completions to 10 receivers, Yusuf Ali led with five catches for 80 yards. Marshall had two TDs on four catches for 61 yards.

UConn scored its final points in the final seconds of the first half, settling for a 21-yard McFadden field goal as time ran out after two straight passes from the 4-yard line were broken up in the end zone by Middle Tennessee’s Teldrick Ross.

Middle Tennessee came into Friday’s game third nationally forcing 17 turnovers and had three takeaways against the Huskies, turning them into 12 points.

Krajewski completed 21 of 37 passes for 237 yards with a touchdown but was intercepted twice.

___

More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25.

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE - Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago