Connecticut Travels To West Virginia With Heavy Hearts

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Connecticut Huskies are getting ready to take on West Virginia in Morgantown, after the toughest week of many of these players and coaches careers.  The death of CB Jasper Howard will shadow over this team for years to come.

Today, the Huskies are focused on football.  Connecticut has never beaten West Virginia and has had a tough time on the road in Morgantown.  It is not an easy place to play and under these circumstances makes it that much more difficult.

Jazz always wanted to beat West Virginia, and that was all he was concerned with after the game of his career last week at home against Louisville.  Then not even twelve hours later he was tragically gone, and this team had lost a brother.

UConn comes into the game 4-2, and 1-1 in the Big East.  They are going into the toughest part of their schedule, and are looking to stay in the top tier of the Big East.  Cody Endres has had a lot of success since taking over the starting job at quarterback.

His success will be instrumental if Connecticut wins this game.  Running back Andre Dixon will look to continue his hard running on the ground and find those open holes that his offensive line has been opening.

Both receivers Kashif Moore and Michael Smith who tried to save Howard are ready to go and look to make an impact through the air.

The defense will be a key part if the Huskies get the win for Jazz.  Lindsey Witten and Kendall Reyes are going to need to pressure Jarrett Brown on the defensive line.  West Virginia also has a Heisman candidate in Noel Devine who runs the football with the best of them.

Blidi Wreh-Wilson, a freshman, will be the cornerback who takes the spot left vacant by Jasper Howard.  He will look to continue his success on the field and make his presence felt in the secondary.

Reggie McClain will return punts and remain at safety.  His play on the field will need to remain stellar because West Virginia is going to attack downfield.  Jerome Junior will start opposite McClain and defending the passing game will be these two's toughest task.

With Scott Lutrus out again due to a reoccurring stinger injury, the linebacking core is going to have to step their game up.  Edsall said it best in the words of Jazz in his pregame conference,"We are going to play every play like it is our last play we are ever going to play."

The Huskies will be playing with heavy hearts against the Mountaineers.  In tribute to everything that Jasper Howard was: LIVE 365.

Connecticut rises to the challenge in a tough contest, UConn 28 West Virginia 24.

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