UConn tops USF on late field goal

The University of South Florida's season was a roller-coaster ride until the very end. And the final play is not one the Bulls will want to remember.

As Connecticut's players rushed to mob kicker Dave Teggart as soon as his 42-yard field goal at the buzzer gave the Huskies a 29-27 victory, the Bulls could only look on in disbelief as their hope of finishing with a winning record in the Big East and finishing the season on a positive note was booted away by Teggart's right foot.

"I did not think he would make the field goal. I thought we would block it," USF coach Jim Leavitt said.

On a cold and snowy Saturday night at Rentschler Field, USF freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels did everything he could to prevent the Bulls from their second consecutive loss to close the season.

Moments before Teggart's clutch kick, Daniels capped a nine-play, 56-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run - his third scoring run of the game - with 40 seconds to play.

Daniels set up his scoring run with a 20-yard completion to receiver Carlton Mitchell two plays earlier, setting up an apparent happy ending to the Bulls' up-and-down season.

However, a short kickoff and return gave UConn possession at its own 44 with 38 seconds remaining.

The Huskies then drove down the field to USF's 25 before Teggart, who had an earlier field goal attempt in the fourth quarter blocked by USF's Jason Pierre-Paul, drilled his final kick of the season through the uprights.

"Our kickoff frustrated me," Leavitt said. "We wanted to squib it, not a line drive. That could have been the difference in the game."

"When something like that (blocked kick) happens, you want a chance to get back on the field," Teggart said. "I was lucky enough to get back out there. I'm glad I got it, or I would have a blocked (kick) and that was it. The conditions really were terrible out there."

Connecticut (7-5, 3-4) lost five games by a total of 15 points.

"It was a great win," Huskies coach Randy Edsall said. "It was good to be on this side of it for change and to win a close game. After all we've been through this season, it's a tremendous accomplishment for this football program."

While Connecticut celebrated, USF (7-5, 3-4) finished the season with five losses in its final seven games after becoming the only BCS program to start 5-0 for the third consecutive season. Daniels played superbly in the inclement weather. At kickoff, the temperature was 34 degrees and it dropped as more and more snow fell throughout the game. Daniels finished with 88 yards on 17 carries - setting a USF freshman record for most rushing yards (800) in a season - and hit 11 of 19 passes for 160 yards.

But the Huskies would not be denied, leaving the Bulls uncertain of their bowl destination; they will find out today.

Daniels once again took the Bulls on a roller-coaster ride with his feet and arm, leading the Bulls back from a 13-point deficit in the second half.

But after Daniels' 27-yard run put USF up 21-20 midway in the fourth quarter, the Huskies quickly struck back on Andre Dixon's 1-yard run with 4:02 left. The pass failed, leaving UConn ahead 26-21 and giving the Bulls enough time for one more shot at a winning record in the Big East.

The Bulls dominated time of possession in the first half, holding the ball for 20 minutes, 11 seconds.

Still, the Huskies made the most of their limited opportunities and led 13-7 at halftime.