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Fordham played a major-college program for the first time in 57 years on Saturday, and got about what it expected.
The Rams were held to just 169 yards of offense, gave up 434 and lost 35-3 to Connecticut, the defending Big East co-champion, which was coming off an appearance in last year's Fiesta Bowl.
''This is the best team we're going to play all year,'' said freshman quarterback Peter Maetzold. ''We fought; we fought every play, and I think we know we can do it when it comes time for Patriot League games.''
Maetzold completed 12 of 25 passes for 149 yards and an interception in his first college game. He had just one big play, a 58-yard pass in the third quarter to receiver Brian Wetzel that set up a 28-yard field goal, Fordham's only score.
But coach Tom Masella said despite the rout, he was pleased with the Rams' effort.
''What I told our kids is that if we compete like this all year, if we compete this hard all year, I like our football team,'' he said. ''They never stopped competing and that's a good thing.''
The Rams couldn't stop Connecticut tailback Lyle McCombs, who rushed 24 times for 141 yards and four touchdowns, two in each half.
UConn used three quarterbacks in the game. Junior Johnny McEntee started, completing 8 of 12 passes for 113 yards. Freshman Mike Nebrich threw for 60 yards and redshirt freshman Scott McCummings spelled both of them, giving UConn an option-style change of pace. He threw just one pass, but it was a 55-yard touchdown strike to tight end Ryan Griffin in the second quarter that gave UConn a 21-0 lead. He also ran for 23 yards.
''You'd think it would be hard for us to keep a rhythm, but it's actually kind of fun,'' said McEntee. ''I'm running in, he's running out, it kind of makes the game more exciting for us.''
But it was McCombs who provided the bulk of the excitement. He had 122 yards rushing and a pair of 2-yard touchdown runs in the first half. His first capped a 58-yard first-quarter drive that was set up by a 24-yard pass from McEntee to Isiah Moore.
McCombs set up his second score himself with a 60-yard run off the left side. He also scored on a 5-yard pitchout and a 1-yard run up the middle in the third quarter.
''All it was was making the most of an opportunity,'' he said. ''The coaches were pretty much calling running-back favored plays on the goal line, so I pretty much knew it was coming.''
An interception by Byron Jones off a Sio Moore tip led to the scoring strike from McCummings to Griffin on the very next play, after the defense bit on a play-action fake. Griffin caught three balls for 97 yards and that score.
''We knew we couldn't give up big plays,'' said Masella. ''I think they had close to 300 yards in the first half and 130 came on two plays. That's what you can't do in a game like this for us.''
Maetzold got the start over sophomore Griffin Murphy. But Murphy also played, occasionally lining up next to Maetzold as a halfback. He ran the ball six times for 17 yards and also threw an incomplete pass on an option play.
''He's such a good athlete - Griffin Murphy - that we have to find ways of getting him on the field.''
UConn kicker Dave Teggart tied the school's scoring record withn his fifth extra point of the game, giving him 259 points in his career.
The game was originally scheduled for Thursday, but was pushed back two days because the stadium was being used by the National Guard as a staging area to distribute supplies to those left without power in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.
Fordham, which was 5-6 a year ago, was playing its first major-college opponent since facing Syracuse in 1954. It had played the Huskies one other time, back in 1915, when it beat UConn 35-0.
Fordham began offering football scholarships last year and is not allowed to play for the championship of the Patriot League, in which schools are allowed to give aid only for financial need.
Fordham can still make the FCS playoffs, but only by earning an at-large bid.
''Definitely playing UConn is a big stretch for us and it gives us confidence that we can play with anybody,'' said Fordham linebacker Nick Womack.
