SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 15, 2012
Connecticut 24, Maryland 21: Lyle McCombs rushed for 94 yards and the deciding touchdown as the visiting Huskies held off a late rally to defeat their former coach Randy Edsall.
McCombs’ 11-yard touchdown run with 8:04 left gave the Huskies a 24-14 cushion. Maryland drove to the UConn 31 in the final minute, but the Huskies (2-1) shut the door.
Stefon Diggs had 223 yards of total offense - 166 on returns - for Maryland (2-1), which pulled within 24-21 on quarterback Perry Hills’ 10-yard run with 4:39 remaining.
Nick Williams picked up a short hop and zipped down the right sideline for a 58-yard punt return to give UConn a 7-0 lead with 7:05 left in the first quarter. Backup quarterback Scott McCummings ran three yards for a score on third down early in the second to double the advantage.
Maryland, outgained 73-2 on the ground through the first quarter, settled down to cut the lead to 14-7 at halftime. Hills hit Diggs for 18 yards on fourth-and-5 and two plays later Wes Brown ran 19 yards for a score with 10:24 left in the second quarter.
GAME NOTEBOOK: It was Williams’ first punt return for a touchdown in his career after taking two kickoffs back for scores. … Edsall won a school-record 74 games, two Big East titles and took UConn to five bowl games in 12 seasons as head coach, ending with the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1, 2011. … The Huskies are 5-11 against the ACC. ... The teams will meet at UConn next year.