Buffalo pounds UConn 41-12

Buffalo pounds UConn 41-12

Published Sep. 29, 2013 12:49 a.m. ET

The Buffalo Bulls beat the Connecticut Huskies for the first time since 2001 with a 41-12 win Saturday.

UConn turned the ball over five times and remains winless through four games. The Huskies struggled to find any offense behind quarterback Chandler Whitmer, increasing the pressure on third-year Connecticut head coach Paul Pasqualoni.

Buffalo (2-2) scored through the air, on the ground and on defense in building a 28-12 halftime lead. They blocked a field goal and scored 17 points off Connecticut turnovers.

Bulls quarterback Joe Licata passed for a career-high three touchdowns, connecting with different receivers on each score. Licata found tight end Mason Schreck for a 5-yard touchdown in the first quarter, later adding a 22-yard touchdown to Alex Neutz and a 36-yard score to Fred Lee.

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The Bulls were aided by the return of starting running back Branden Oliver, who had 110 total yards including 90 yards rushing and a touchdown.

Whitmer turned the ball over four times, including a second-quarter interception that Najja Johnson returned 33 yards for a Bulls touchdown.

Backup quarterback Casey Cochran fared no better, intercepted on his first pass attempt by Nick Gilbo.

Patrick Clarke hit field goals of 49 and 50 yards for Buffalo.

Receiver Geremy Davis was a bright spot for the Huskies, with five catches for 102 yards.

The Huskies continue to have trouble on the ground. Entering the game 121st in rushing offense, they finished the game with 27 yards rushing on 39 attempts.

The win was Buffalo's first against a BCS school since Sept. 7, 2002, when they beat Rutgers.

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