By Michael Letendre

EAST HARTFORD – The UConn football team started its season-opening drive with zest on Thursday evening, going 12 plays and 75 yards, capped by a Victor Rosa 18 yard TD burst as the Huskies nabbed an early edge against N.C. State from Pratt & Whitney Stadium in East Hartford.

But the UConn defense had a lapse or two and staggered offensively over fourth period play as the Wolfpack wrangled up a 24-14 victory in a non-conference affair.

The game, witnessed by 36,526 fans, was the opener for both teams and Rosa, the former Bristol Central High School standout, picked up right where he left off in 2022-23.

Rosa cashed in on two touchdown rushes and led the Huskies in carries (9) and rushing yards (99), just missing out on a 100 yard outing.

Besides the 18 yard TD jaunt, Rosa also made a punishing 71-yard touchdown splash with 2:04 to play to trim the deficit to 17-14 in the third quarter.

UCONN did not inch any closer from there.

Rosa averaged 11.0 yards-per-carry that night – leading all rushers in total yardage.

Rosa’s 18 yard touchdown rush came from the right side of the field, splitting his way right through a huge seam in the N.C. State line, to give the locals a 7-0 edge with 8:21 left to go in the first frame before the visiting aggression notched 17 straight points to capture the lead for good.

A Delbert Mimms one yard TD jaunt made it a 17-7 contest with 2:22 remaining in the third tilt.

However, on the ensuing drive, Rosa took off on the first play, following a few blockers, breaking through the crowd, and shaking two defenders as he sprinted down the UConn sideline for a 71-yard explosion – chopping the deficit to 17-14 with 2:04 remaining in the third.

But Rosa flipped his way into the end zone on the TD plunge, drawing a penalty in the process, which forced the Huskies to kickoff from the 20-yard line as the Wolfpack made a big return and started the series in UConn territory.

The Wolfpack scored a four play, 27 yard scoring drive as Brennan Armstrong made an eight yard carry into the end zone to make it a double-figure affair once again with 34 seconds left in the third.

On UConn’s final 18 plays, the offense nabbed just 48 total yards and on an interception thrown by quarterback Joseph Fagnano with 54 seconds left to play, the Huskies ended up dropping a hard-fought 24-14 decision to open the campaign.

Next week, Rosa and the Huskies are on the road at Georgia State on September 9 – looking to even their record in a big clash.