WVU's 28-0 run KO's Huskies

EAST HARTFORD - Over the past four years, the blueprint for success against West Virginia has been simple - knock Pat White out of the game.

The Mountaineers' only two losses last season came when White was relegated to the bench.

With a little over four minutes remaining in Saturday's match-up to decide first place in the Big East, White was just where UConn wanted him - on the sidelines, with his helmet off, as backup Jarrett Brown commanded the West Virginia offense.

White wasn't icing his ankle, however. He wasn't holding his wrist. He wasn't grimacing in pain. Instead, White was comfortably looking on - much like he did at the end of last season's game against the Huskies - as West Virginia's second-string offense put the finishing touches on a 35-13 dismantling of a UConn team that laid an egg in perhaps its most important game of the season.

It wasn't 66-21, but in many ways, Saturday's crushing defeat mirrored the "embarrassment" that the Huskies suffered in Morgantown, W. Va., last season.

UConn (6-3, 2-2 Big East) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter on a 21-yard touchdown run by Donald Brown, and pushed its lead to 10-0 on the very next possession.

Brown, the nation's leading rusher, was rolling (54 yards rushing on five carries on UConn's first two possessions). Redshirt freshman quarterback Cody Endres was 7-for-8 in just his second career start. Even fullback Anthony Sherman ripped off a 16-yard-run. The Huskies were clicking on all cylinders.

Then, with 11:23 to go in the second quarter, White broke containment on a 3rd-and-goal from the 24-yard line and practically walked into the end zone to bring the score to 10-7.

UConn kicker Dave Teggart added another field goal before the half to push UConn's lead to 13-7 at the midway point.

After that, however, everything began to unravel, and the Mountaineers (6-2, 3-0) took advantage.

A 6-yard touchdown reception from West Virginia wide receiver Jock Sanders capped a six-play, 56-yard scoring drive that was highlighted by a 35-yard connection from White to Dorrell Jalloh.

On the ensuing drive, an Endres pass sailed over the head of a wide-open D.J. Hernandez and fell into the arms of West Virginia cornerback Brandon Hogan, who returned the ball to the UConn 33-yard line. Sanders added another touchdown four plays later to increase West Virginia's lead to 21-13.

"I wasn't really stepping into all of my throws when I felt pressure," Endres said. "That's all on me; it's something that I'm going to have to improve on."

Things only got worse from there for UConn. Star cornerback Darius Butler went down with a knee injury on the kickoff and three plays after that, Brown lost a fumble for the first time in his career and gave West Virginia possession at the UConn 21.

Following another Sanders touchdown, a once-competitive game became a 28-13 rout in the blink of an eye. The result baffled some, but UConn coach Randy Edsall boiled it down to one simple point.

"It can when you have Pat White," Edsall said. "It can when you turn it over and put Pat White on a short field, or put Noel Devine on a short field."

White turned more good field position into a 36-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter, providing the final margin of victory.

Endres went on to throw two more interceptions and Brown carried the ball only one more time following his fumble.

"You can't make mistakes against a team like that and expect to win," Brown said.

The loss snaps the Huskies' 11-game winning streak at Rentschler Field, which was the fifth longest in the nation.