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-> During the timeout, defensive coordinator Matt Brock huddled with his starters to set the strategy. One of the refs told Mora to make sure his players stayed on the field, because whatever happened, they would likely be reviewing it.
Then UConn lined up, Tui Faumuina-Brown, Jack Barton, Jelani Stafford, Dal’Mont Gourdine, Langston Hardy in front. “Coach Brock wanted to make sure we had the right call,” linebacker Jayden McDonald said. “We kind of knew they were going to come in with a tush push, so we were set in one of our ‘bear fronts” to stop that, and it was just man-on-man. Who’s going to be the bigger man.” <-
-> “They’ve run that successfully in the past; that’s a hard play to stop,” Mora said. “The tush push, or brotherly shove, whatever it is. Just root hog, we got to get under them so they can’t drive their legs, and you’ve got to have guys come over the top.”
Douglas took the snap, and ran straight into the wall as defensive back Durante Jones came vaulting over the top of the heap. The Temple quarterback lost the ball as he hit the tushes in front of him, and it bounced away from the pile. Jordan Wright was there to scoop it up and with no time on the clock and he raced to the end zone to secure six unnecessary points and the very necessary victory. <-
-> “I saw that ball out, I knew I had to score,” Wright said. “… Coach Brock called an amazing call. I don’t even think (Douglas) ever possessed the ball; as soon as he tried to come up, it was already out. I turned around, like God’s gift it was there and I picked it up and got to running. I knew no one was catching me. I told them, ‘meet me in the end zone.’ Coach was telling me to get down, but we needed that, I needed the fans to feel that, I just wanted them to know we appreciated them and thank them for coming and giving us a piece of the excitement.” <-