Outcome: UConn football drops to the home of the Holy Cross, 38-28

After the flop at the Week 0 opening in Fresno, UConn football flopped even harder in their home opener on Saturday and lost to FCS School Holy Cross at Rentschler Field, 38-28.

St. Offensively, UConn opened the game with seven games and 18 yards in its first two positions. Jack Zergiotis tied the game with a 50-yard cannon to freshman recipient Keelan Marion.

In his next possession, the Holy Cross stumbled, leading to a short field that UConn took advantage of by Zergiotis fading into contact, making it 14-7 Huskies. This would be their last lead in the game.

A few minutes later, the Zergiotis pass fell from the body of the passing ball into the hands of the defending line of Jason Modack.

Both teams exchanged long touchdown positions. Marion made an incredible run up the middle and nearly reduced the home side’s lead, but the visitors’ keeper somehow managed to get ahold of it.

The Holy Cross responded with a steady run that included a third down-transform and a fourth down-transform to finish the halftime with a field goal and move to the locker room on the 24-21 lead.

UConns mediocrity continued in the third quarter. The Huskies race ended with a fumble, touchdown and pound. The Holy Cross also got a touch to keep its three-point lead.

In the fourth quarter, revenue and poor coaching caused UConn to squander all offensive momentum. Zergiotis threw two interruptions, one of which sealed the game to the guests. UConn also punted from the Holy Cross’s 41-yard line when the game was left at 10:35.

Although the pound fell on the two-yard line, which was the best result for the punt decision, the Holy Cross drove 98 yards down the field to the goal to ensure victory.

The 98-yard drive was aided by 76-yard cheater Sluka, where UConn performed terrible discipline and tackling, a game that put the Crusaders in a game-changing finish.

The Holy Cross defeated UConn, 361-262, when the Huskies allowed 224 rush yards. UConn played thoroughly on both sides of the ball in a way that would be forgiving against a Big Ten opponent, but completely unacceptable against the FCS team. The Huskies coughed the ball up four times, while the Crusaders made only one turn.

Zergiotis scored 17:41 with a feed attempt of 174 yards, three touches and three abductions. Kevin Mensah led the Husky assailants by 65 yards and Marion was their lead winner with three catches of 60 yards and two touches.

This loss is incredibly embarrassing for the program, and can hardly be attributed to a lack of talent, a rust problem, or melting tapes. This is the worst loss in program history since Paul Pasqualonis Huskies took over FCS Towson in 2013.

If UConn’s leadership hasn’t already considered changes to the leadership of this football program, this loss is a downturn for a program that has already bottomed out in 2018. If it hasn’t made progress since then, shouldn’t anyone be held accountable?