UConn's improved secondary ready for Middle Tennessee challenge
Oct. 21—Not known for making big plays, UConn's defense doubled its interception total for the season in last week's slump-busting victory of Yale.
Pretty impressive, no matter the opponent.
An alert group of defensive backs combined for three of the four interceptions in UConn's first victory of the season, 21-15 over the Bulldogs. The Huskies increased their overall total to eight.
"We haven't had too many this season, so having four in one game was definitely huge and will definitely give us confidence for the rest of the season," redshirt freshman safety Malik Dixon said."Hopefully, we get more coming up.... The four picks, it's honestly just a start. I'm proud of my secondary."
Next up is Middle Tennessee State (2-4), which visits Rentschler Field in East Hartford on Friday at 6 p.m. (CBSSN).
The Huskies (1-7) will be shooting to win two straight for the first time since Oct. 2017 when they beat Temple and Tulsa.
The young secondary hopes to build on the program's first four-interception game since 2015.
Junior cornerback Tre Wortham picked off two passes, becoming the first Husky to accomplish that feat since Obi Melifonwu in 2016.
Freshman safety Durante Jones had the game's first interception and freshman linebacker Tui Faumuina-Brown had the final one, grabbing the ball out of a crowd of players in the end zone on the game's final play.
Overall, the Huskies allowed just 191 yards passing versus Yale.
Dixon was happy for his teammates.
"We're all a unit and we all support each other, 100 percent," Dixon said. "Whenever we see another DB doing good, it definitely hypes us up and makes us want to do better and go harder. We definitely get momentum, and we start making plays ourselves."
UConn's pass defense will be challenged against Middle Tennessee. Quarterback Chase Cunningham has thrown for 13 of Middle Tennessee's 17 touchdown passes. The Blue Raiders average 331.2 yards per game, 241.5 yards of that in the air.
Wide receiver Jarrin Pierce (26 catches, 265 yards, four TDs) and tight end Jimmy Marshall (25 catches, 329 yards, 3 TDs) are the top two targets.
"Offensively, they do a good job in the pass game," interim head coach Lou Spanos said. "They've got some skilled players, really explosive and dynamic."
UConn's defense still has plenty of room for improvement but has played better in the last four games due in part to a drop-off in competition compared to the early season schedule. The Huskies have allowed 24 points during that span.
They still give up far too many big plays, including a 60-yard touchdown pass to Yale.
"It's something that we can work on," Spanos said.
There's a good possibility that UConn could welcome back veteran defensive back Jeremy Lucien, who's been sidelined with concussion. Lucien is tied for the team lead in interceptions with two and has a team-best four pass break-ups.
"He's one of our leaders," Spanos said. "Consistently, week in and week out, he's been producing."
Friday's game will be the third meeting between the two teams, with Middle Tennessee winning 66-10 in 2010 in Storrs and 38-14 in 2011 in Murfreesboro. The Blue Raiders belong to Conference USA.
