Army Ground Game Overpowers Shorthanded UConn in Wasabi Fenway Bowl Rout

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On a frigid Saturday afternoon in Boston, historic Fenway Park served as the backdrop for a classic clash of styles as the Army Black Knights squared off against the UConn Huskies. In front of a crowd of 22,461, Army utilized a dominant rushing attack to secure a 41–16 victory, moving head coach Jeff Monken to an impressive 6–1 in bowl games during his 12-year tenure at West Point.

Programs in Transition

The two teams entered the postseason trending in opposite directions. Army arrived following a string of nine one-score games—including their last six—proving they were a team comfortable in high-pressure situations. Conversely, UConn arrived as a program in flux; former head coach Jim Mora had departed for a new role, leaving offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis to serve as interim head coach. With several key starters opting out for the NFL Draft or the transfer portal, the Huskies relied on freshman quarterback Ksaan Farrar, who had attempted just one pass all season.

Early Sparks and Lead Changes

UConn struck first after their defense came up with a massive fourth-down stop. Taking over with a short field, running back Cam Edwards ignited the drive with a 34-yard sprint down the sideline before punching it in from 12 yards out. The score gave the Huskies an early 7–0 lead with 9:17 left in the first quarter.

Army responded immediately. Abandoning their traditional ground-heavy script for a moment, quarterback Cale Hellums lofted a 40-yard touchdown pass to Noah Short, who beat his defender vertically to tie the game at 7–7.

The Nwawuihe Breakout

The second quarter belonged to Army’s emerging star, freshman fullback Godspower Nwawuihe. After a UConn fumble recovery by Matt Hoffman went uncapitalized, Army took control. Nwawuihe capped a 90-yard drive with a 43-yard touchdown burst up the middle to give Army its first lead at 14–7.

Though UConn’s Chris Freeman drilled a 49-yard field goal to cut the lead to 14–10 at halftime, the Huskies were struggling to find balance; they went into the locker room with -4 passing yards for the half.

A Record-Breaking Second Half

Army’s triple-option reached full throttle in the third quarter. Nwawuihe struck again, this time breaking three tackles on a 70-yard touchdown run—the longest in Fenway Bowl history. He finished the day with a game-high 171 yards on just 12 carries.

Cale Hellums added to the onslaught with a 1-yard TD sneak and later a 6-yard scoring run, capping a methodical 15-play drive that demoralized the UConn defense. By the time Hellums crossed the goal line for the second time, the lead had ballooned to 34–10.

Closing the Books

UConn managed a late score when Ksaan Farrar scrambled for an 11-yard touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion left the Huskies well short. Army’s backups added one final touchdown to set the score at 41–16.

Final Stats of Note:

Army: 476 total yards (368 on the ground).
Noah Short (Army): 7 catches for 108 yards and a TD.
Cam Edwards (UConn): 108 rushing yards and a TD.

Post-Game Reflections

In the locker room, interim coach Gordon Sammis was blunt, stating, “It sucks to lose,” noting that the team didn’t execute well enough to keep pace. Despite his entry into the transfer portal, RB Cam Edwards played the full game, later saying he believes the “sky is the limit” for the program as he looks toward his future.

For Army, the victory was a redemption story. Defensive MVP Kalib Fortner expressed pride in how the team responded after a heartbreaking loss to Navy two weeks prior, while Offensive MVP Godspower Nwawuihe credited his offensive line for paving the way for his historic afternoon.

Army finishes the 2025 season at 7–6, while UConn concludes a historic year at 9–4.