Live blog Syracuse

Pregame: Tyler Lorenzen is in full gear and is going to resume his duties as starting quarterback. As far as gametime, this is good news for the Huskies. It will be interesting to see what he can do and they sorely missed him. 1-3 is no accident without him. As far as shenanigans this week about Tyler's status, well that's another story, won't get into it here. I usually take people at face value. Not anymore. That's fine, I can be skeptical and will be overly cynical from now on.

BTW, ESPNU cameras are in Tyler's face. Well, it looks like ESPNU has it confirmed. Enjoy the game.

Update 7:01 p.m.: Wow. The dome is at most half full, probably less. There is no one here. I can't tell you how few people are at this game. Dies hards and family it looks like. David Tyree is here. First time I ever clapped in the press box. Woo Hoo.

Update 7:04 p.m.: Tyler and Frazer both "warming up." G-Rob getting circles run around him. Pretty funny. UConn to kick off.

First quarter

Update 7:11 pm: Howard limped of after punt. Lorenzen in at QB. We'll see what's wrong with Howard. Huskies are thin at corner.

Update 7:14 pm: Bad job by Kashif Moore on third down. He has to get to the sticks. His catch was 4 inches short. He has to be beyond the to gain line. That's plain experience folks. He'll learn.


Update 7:30 pm: Drive stalls at the Cuse 7. Just struggling in the red zone. No quibble with the plays, though a FB dive on 2nd and goal from the 8 is a bit of a reach. Teggart 23 yard FG. Third down pass to Brown was high. Lorenzen had to get rid of it and I don't think Brown was open anyhow. 3-0 UConn. Defense looks good.

Update 7:41 pm: Another opportunity missed. Moore dropped a TD pass. This one was a tough catch, but it was a good look over the top by Lorenzen with pressure and the ball was there and catchable. Huskies need to make plays. It didn't look like Moore was ready for the pass. 4th down on the 20. On to second quarter...

Second quarter

7:45 pm: The great David Teggart connects right down the middle from 37 yards. He is 8-for-8 in his career on field goal kicks. Everything has looked easy. For the 4th straight week. How the heck was he sitting on the bench as long as he did? Teggart and 6-0 UConn. Field goals are exciting now.

7:50 pm: Syracuse offense one drive into the second quarter after another three and out -- 15 plays and 14 yards, 1 first down.

7:53 pm: GAME CHANGER. Syracuse blocked a Cullen punt, never had a chance to get it off. Punt blocked for a touchdown. 15 yards of total offense on 14 plays and Syracuse is winning 7-6? The specials teams blocking on punts has been an embarrassment. That is 5 blocked punts, and two have gone for touchdowns. I don't know if it is technique or scheme, leaning towards some kind of hole in the scheme because Syracuse looked pretty confident lining up for it.

8:01 pm: Huskies go three and out. This is shaping up to be one of those WTF? games. UConn should be up double digits and be in control. Is it that hard to block on a punt? I don't see every other team in the country getting kicks blocked this often.

8:06 pm: Huskies rush the punter and get a safety. Bad snap and Robbie Frey gets credit for a safety. 8-7 UConn.

8:10 pm: Wow. Jordan Todman takes a reverse and shows tremendous speed for a 50 yard touchdown. You give Todman a hole and just like that he is gone. The kid needs to bulk up, he struggles when he is hit, but give him the edge and he is gone. Great play. That's why we aren't seeing Andre Dixon that much. Todman's speed is something the Huskies have been salivating about all season. They don't really have that on the team. Good play by Kashif Moore on a reception the play prior. He seems to be the only UConn receiver who can actually get open. Order restored for the Huskies -- 15-7.

Update 8:25 pm: Syracuse brings it right back down. On 4th and goal from the goal line, Brinkley gets stiffed, but a second effort gets him in. Huskies defense had a letdown there. All Brinkley on the drive. Xtra point good, 15-14. UConn just didn't wrap Brinkley up a couple of times. It's a ball game, incredibly enough. 15-14, 2:33 left in the half.

Update 8:30 p.m.: Todman shows speed on kickoff gets it to 45. Donald Brown does rest,goes down right sideline Xtra point and 22-14 lead. Brown's 49 yard run showed tremendous speed. 2 plays and 55 yards, Huskies just silenced this place.

Update 8:33 :Brown's 49 yard TD pushed him past Terry Caulley for the schools all-time rushing lead. Brown has over 3,200 yards in his career. He is a great running back.

Halftime wrap

Huskies should be feeling pretty comfortable right now 22-14, and Cuse has put together only one drive all game long. It's UConn's game to lose. It's a typical Tyler Lorenzen game. He is passing dink and dunk with no turnovers, and the running game has had some big plays. Todman and Brown have 50 and 49 yard touchdown runs. Huskies should run the ball down the Orange's throat in the second half. Except for a letdown after the Todman TD, the defense has stopped Cuse cold. Syracuse is going to need another defensive TD or special teams play in the second half. UConn should be feeling pretty good. Could be a bigger score, could be worse. I'll check back with halftime stats, let me go to halftime dinner.

Halftime stats: Brown 97 yards, Todman 59. Lorenzen 4-of-9 for 47 yards. No sacks, no INTs, and no mistakes. That's how Edsall likes to draw it up. UConn 220-90 edge in total offense. Brinkley has 65 of those yards for Syracuse.

Third quarter

Update 9:03 pm: Huskies go 3 and out on first drive. Lorenzen missed Anthony Sherman on a pass.Screen went nowhere and sacked on third down. Too bad Huskies have struggled running the ball.

Update 9:07 pm: UConn defense comes up big. Cody Brown gets pressure, Robert Vaughn INT.

Ugly offensive series. Inside the 6 yard line Brown for no gain, bootleg gets a yard or two and a a play action pass out of the endzone. Huskies struggling with the pass, what else is new? Still 25-14 after the great Teggart hits another field goal. Could have put game away with a TD. Door is still cracked open for Syracuse, just barely.

Update 9:28: Yawn. I need to get to sleep. This Dome is quieter than my home. One more score for the Huskies and this one's over.

Update 9:37 pm: Jasper Howard punt return for a touchdown.Orange faithful headed to the exits 32-14. I don't blame them. Larry Taylor had two tonight in a CFL game. Go figure. Ohh, 32-14. Good night Cuse.

Update 9:40 pm: Robert McClain jumped a route like he knew it was coming. 38 yard INT for a touchdown. This one has turned into a laugher. 39-14 lead over Syracuse. I actually feel bad for the Cuse fans, they are good loyal fans. UConn AD Jeff Hathaway is here, he should head down to the field before the Syracuse administration doesn't let Edsall leave.

Fourth quarter

Update 9:51 pm: I am retiring the blog for tonight. 39-14, 12:17 to go. The fans in Syracuse are hitting the streets, and the blog will return later.