Duke Football Loses Back and Forth Affair, 37-34, at Connecticut

Saturday, November 8

East Hartford, Conn.

3:30 p.m.

Duke University

5-4 , 4-1

Connecticut

7-3 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Duke

UConn

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Duke Football Loses Back and Forth Affair, 37-34, at Connecticut

11/8/2025 7:06:00 PM | Football

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)Coach Diaz: Postgame Press Conference Jeremiah Hasley: Postgame Press Conference Nate Sheppard: Postgame Press Conference Photo Gallery

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – In its second consecutive back-and-forth battle, Duke attempted another second half rally, but came up three points short Saturday afternoon inside Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in falling to Connecticut, 37-34.

The Blue Devils were able to reach Connecticut's 39-yard line on their last-minute attempt to tie the game, but a turnover gave the ball back to the Huskies, who ran out the final 18 seconds on the clock.

Duke freshman Nate Sheppard ran for two touchdowns to lift his season total to seven, tied for the second most by a rookie in Blue Devil history. Quarterback Darian Mensah finished the contest with three touchdown passes, moving the redshirt sophomore's season total to 24 and into a tie for second most by a Duke quarterback in a single season.

On defense, Duke was led by linebacker Tre Freeman's three pass breakups and safety DaShawn Stone's six tackles. Safety Caleb Weaver and defensive tackle Josiah Green each tallied a sack.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After forcing a three-and-out, which included a Josiah Green sack, Duke (5-4) took its opening drive and went ahead 7-0 on a 13-yard scamper by Nate Sheppard at the 12:31 mark of the first quarter.
Connecticut (7-3) responded with its own touchdown on a 10-yard pass to tie the contest at 7-7 with 9:03 to play in the opening quarter.
Duke's Darian Mensah had his streak of consecutive passes without an interception halted at 211, the longest in program history and the third longest active streak. The Huskies converted the short field into a field goal for a 10-7 lead with 6:12 left in the first frame.
With Connecticut in position to extend its lead, Caleb Weaver sacked Joe Fagnano on third down for an eight-yard loss and Chris Freeman missed the ensuing 42-yard field goal attempt to keep the score 10-7 with just over 1:00 to play in the first.
Following the missed field goal, Duke regained the lead with a 76-yard touchdown march. Mensah connected with Andrel Anthony for a 10-yard touchdown to regain the lead at 14-10 with 12:25 to play in the opening half.
The Huskies answered on their ensuing drive and took the lead again on a four-yard passing score from Fagnano to Skyler Bell to go up 17-14 with 5:59 remaining in the second quarter.
UConn tacked on another field goal before the half ended to lead 20-14 at intermission.
Duke stormed out of the gates in the second half and scored on its opening possession with Sheppard's second TD of the game, this time from three yards away to go ahead 21-20 at the 10:13 mark of the third quarter.
The Huskies replied with a field goal drive to go back up, 23-21, with 6:50 to play in the third.
The Blue Devils mustered the final tally in the third quarter with a Landen King one-yard touchdown pass from Mensah on fourth-and-goal from the one with 2:09 remaining in the period to put Duke in front 28-23.
It was Connecticut's turn to score on the next drive as a fake punt helped set up a three-yard touchdown rush. The Huskies went for two, but the pass attempt was intercepted to make it a 29-28 UConn edge with 10:48 to play.
After a Jeremiah Hasley touchdown reception with 5:34 remaining, the Blue Devils went for two but were unsuccessful, establishing a five-point lead, 34-29. The Huskies responded with a touchdown of their own and converted a two-point try, going up by a field goal with 1:58 to go.
After receiving the kickoff, the Blue Devils were able to drive 17 yards in 10 plays in less than two minutes but a fumble from just outside field-goal range allowed Connecticut to kneel out the remaining 18 seconds.