EAST HARTFORD - Steele Jantz and the Iowa St. Cyclones mustered four total yards on offense in the first quarter, but stormed back in the final three quarters to sink the UConn Huskies, 24-20, on Friday night at Rentschler Field.
Jantz threw for 200 yards and a touchdown but did toss three interceptions for Iowa State (3-0), all of which came in the first quarter, resulting in an early 10-0 lead for UConn after the first quarter.
Scott McCummings (1-for-3, 39 passing yards; 10 carries, 38 rushing yards) put the Huskies on the scoreboard first with his 11-yard touchdown run with 10:25 left in the opening quarter. Dave Taggert connected on a 52-yard field goal later in the quarter with 1:59 to-go, putting UConn up by ten.
James White brought Iowa State within three in the second quarter, darting for a 26-yard touchdown scamper down the left sideline, cutting the Cyclones' deficit to 10-7 with 11:03 remaining before halftime.
The Cyclones pulled ahead for the first time early in the third quarter, as a trick play resulted in a 40-yard touchdown pass with 11:18 left in the quarter. The play featured a reverse, putting the ball in wide receiver Josh Lenz's hands, who promptly fired a 40-yard pass to fellow wideout Darius Reynolds for the long touchdown.
Taggert answered with his second field goal of 50 yards on the day, making him the only kicker in Big East history that has kicked two 50 yards field goals twice. Taggert also did so last season in UConn's game against USF.
Zach Guyer connected on a 36-yard field goal of his own with 6:44 left in the third, putting the Cyclones up by four, 17-13, heading into the final quarter.
With 12:51 left in the third quarter, McCummings found Kashif Moore down the left sideline for a 39-yard touchdown to put UConn up 20-17. However, Jantz found Reynolds for a 20-yard touchdown catch - his second score of the game - to put Iowa State back on top, 24-20, with 9:08 remaining.
McEntee and the Huskies got the ball back with plenty of time left on the clock, and with less than two minutes to play, faced a second and two on the Iowa State 38 yard line, but three straight McEntee incompletions doomed UConn and sent the Huskies to their second straight loss.
UConn travels to face Buffalo in its next contest on Saturday, September 24.
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