Chandler Whitmer (28-for-44, 333 yards, INT) threw three touchdown passes, the first three of his FBS career, but it wasn't enough as the UConn Huskies were beaten by the Western Michigan Broncos, 30-24, Saturday afternoon at Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo, Mich.
Whitmer's first touchdown pass was a 9-yard strike to Ryan Griffin with 2:36 to go in the first half, trimming the Huskies' deficit to 17-7. Andrew Haldeman's 44-yard field goal at 12:53 of the first quarter opened the scoring and was followed by back-to-back Broncos touchdowns, a Antoin Scriven 1-yard scoring rush at 12:10 of the second quarter and a Dareyon Chance 9-yard rushing touchdown with 8:39 remaining before halftime.
Alex Carder (18-for-34, 237 yards) found Josh Schaffer for a 30-yard touchdown pass at 9:47 of the third quarter, stretching the Western Michigan lead to 24-7. Whitmer's second touchdown pass, a 2-yard toss to John Delahunt with 4:15 left in the third, made it 24-14.
Chad Christen kicked a 32-yard field goal to open the scoring in the fourth quarter and bring UConn within a touchdown. Western Michigan again widened the gap when Desmond Bozeman sacked Whitmer, forcing a fumble that he recovered and took 53 yards for the decisive touchdown. Whitmer brought the Huskies within reach in the final minute after his 7-yard scoring pass to Geremy Davis with 47 seconds left, but it was too little, too late.
UConn outgained Western Michigan, 425-330, in the game. Lyle McCombs rushed for 119 yards on 23 carries while Davis reeled in nine catches for 123 yards for the Huskies (2-2).
Chance rushed for 66 yards on 19 carries and the Broncos (2-2) had a pair of 100-plus yard receivers in Schaffer (104 yards, six catches) and Jaime Wilson (eight catches, 100 yards).
Connecticut returns home to Rentschler Field to face the Buffalo Bulls next Saturday.
For more UConn Football coverage, visit our team page and blog, The UConn Blog. Also visit our Western Michigan team page and SB Nation NCAA Football for more coverage.