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.
McCombsกฏ 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 Hillsกฏ 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 Williamsกฏ first punt return for a touchdown in his career after taking two kickoffs back for scores. กญ 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. กญ The Huskies are 5-11 against the ACC. ... The teams will meet at UConn next year.