EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Connecticut's offense churned out 21 first-quarter points on the way to a 56-7 final over Lafayette on Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium, in the program's lone FBS matchup of 2026.
It was the Leopards' second "season opener," as their scheduled first game in week zero on Aug. 27 at Georgetown was declared a no-contest due to weather after just one half of play.
UConn's offense was primed for the team's season opener, scoring on the first four possessions on the way to 362 first-half yards, compared to 49 for Lafayette. The hosts covered 75 yards on their first drive, finalized by Kalieb Osbourne's 25-yard toss to Javon Brown.
After a Leopard punt, the Huskies' subsequent possession put them 4th-and-5 at the Lafayette 18. Osborne found Kenji Christian who eluded one tackle near the line to gain before running the final 13 yards for the score.
Osborne added a nine-yard rushing TD after a scramble before the end of the first quarter for a 21-0 margin. Six minutes into the second, the UConn running game struck again, this time with a 16-yard Cyncir Bowers' TD run.
The Leopards' offense moved the ball in the second quarter, first using a 32-yard Daniel Lipovski pass to Mason Kuehner that took them near midfield. A defensive pass interference penalty put the ball at the UConn 30 before a pair of sacks stalled the drive.
The Lafayette defense registered its first stop of the game with four minutes left in the half. Beckham Dee picked off his first pass of the season, second of his career and had six stops in the half. It was one of two Lafayette interceptions, as Darrick LeBeouf added one with nine minutes left in the game.
The Leopards scored on their final drive of the afternoon when Peyton Green punched in a two-yard score. The Leopards covered 75 yards on eight plays, including a 19-yard strike from Jason Penza to rookie Drew Watson that helped set up the score.
Lafayette will be Back on the Hill, hosting Marist on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
NOTES: This was just the second meeting between the two schools, last playing in 1984 (a 20-13 Lafayette win in Easton).
