Brown bolting after UConn win
TORONTO – Connecticut’s Donald Brown showed he has nothing left to prove at the college level.
Brown ran for a career-best 261 yards in his final college game, helping the fumble-prone Huskies overcome a mistake-filled first half and defeat Buffalo 38-20 in the International Bowl on Saturday.
After becoming the 14th player in major college history to run for 2,000 yards in a season, the junior running back broke the news to UConn fans.
“OK, tell them, bud,” coach Randy Edsall said, slapping Brown on the back at the postgame interview table.
“I’m not coming back,” Brown said. “I’m going to pursue the NFL.”
He then apologized for saying three weeks ago that he planned to return to Connecticut for his senior season.
The nation’s leading rusher said he made the commitment to return to stop speculation and negate a potential distraction for his team heading into the game at Toronto.
“I apologize for quote, unquote lying, but I did it to protect my team,” Brown said.
He proved that in the first half against the Bulls, when he had 208 yards rushing – 6 short of matching a career best – and kept the Huskies in the game. UConn turned the ball over five times in the first 30 minutes.
Brown scored on a 45-yard run and then added a 75-yarder to set up quarterback Tyler Lorenzen’s touchdown run.
Lorenzen then put the Huskies ahead for good 10 minutes into the third quarter by completing his first pass, a 4-yarder to tight end Steve Brouse for a 24-20 lead.
In overcoming a 20-10 deficit, the Huskies (8-5) won their second of three bowl appearances since joining the Big East in 2004.
The Mid-American champion Bulls (8-6) had their breakout season under coach Turner Gill end with a loss in their bowl debut. Buffalo scored all its points off turnovers.
Buffalo registered its first winning season since 1996 and was 10-69 in seven seasons prior to Gill’s arrival three years ago.
“Obviously, we didn’t come out on the right end of it, but I’m still going to have a smile on my face. I’m so proud of this football team,” Gill said. “This isn’t going to be a one-year wonder.”
UConn 38, Buffalo 20
| Buffalo | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | – | 20 |
| Connecticut | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | – | 38 |
Buff – FG Principe 38
Conn – D.Brown 45 run (Teggart kick)
Conn – FG Teggart 32
Buff – Long recovered fumble in end zone (Principe kick)
Buff – FG Principe 29
Buff – Starks 4 run (Principe kick)
Conn – Lorenzen 13 run (Teggart kick)
Conn – Brouse 4 pass from Lorenzen (Teggart kick)
Conn – Lorenzen 15 run (Teggart kick)
Conn – Deleston 100 interception return (Teggart kick)
| Buff | Conn | |
| First downs | 10 | 19 |
| Rushes-yards | 19-24 | 49-358 |
| Passing | 213 | 49 |
| Comp-Att-Int | 29-43-1 | 4-6-0 |
| Return Yards | 8 | 146 |
| Punts-Avg. | 10-43.5 | 3-42.0 |
| Fumbles-Lost | 0-0 | 6-5 |
| Penalties-Yards | 5-25 | 3-29 |
| Time of Possession | 33:06 | 26:54 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Buffalo, Starks 13-25, Thermilus 3-5, Willy 3-(minus 6). Connecticut, D.Brown 29-261, Todman 7-62, Lorenzen 12-32, Sherman 1-3.
PASSING – Buffalo, Willy 29-43-1-213. Connecticut, Lorenzen 4-6-0-49.
RECEIVING – Buffalo, Starks 11-21, Roosevelt 8-90, Hamlin 4-54, Rack 3-22, E.Jackson 2-17, Rice 1-9. Connecticut, K.Moore 1-18, Butler 1-16, Sherman 1-11, Brouse 1-4.