Army Rolls over UConn Behind Strong Run Game in the 2025 Fenway Bowl
- Natalie Zona
- Dec 27, 2025
- 5 min read
The Army Black Knights beat the UConn Huskies 41-16 in the Fenway Bowl, winning their second straight bowl game.
The first half of the Fenway Bowl saw a run heavy, old-school offense from both teams. For Army, that had been their play style for the entire season with nearly 3,000 rushing yards from the entire team and only 943 passing yards. For Connecticut, they were without their 3,000+ yard passer in Joe Fagnano, so their game plan shifted. Fagnano opted out to instead play in other bowl games.
UConn’s team looked a little different than it did on November 22nd against Florida Atlantic, which was the last time they played before their bowl game. Fagnano was not at the helm, and their most prolific receiver, Skyler Bell, only played one drive of the game.
Amid speculation of who would start at quarterback, Ksaan Farrar got the nod for the Huskies. During the press conference the day before the game, Interim Head Coach Gordon Sammis said, “We got a couple options. If I have to, I'll go out there and finish the game. We’ve got a couple guys ready to go, we are able to do what we need to do to try and win the game.”
Most notably, Jim Mora, the Huskies head coach, was not on the sidelines because he recently accepted the head coaching job at Colorado State. Offensive coordinator, Gordon Sammis, took on the role as interim head coach, but he too is leaving for the offensive coordinator job at TCU now that the season is over.
In this age of college football, the transfer portal also changes teams and affects the rosters in bowl games. For UConn, their starting running back Cam Edwards announced he entered the portal, but he played throughout the entire bowl game, eclipsing over 100 yards and a touchdown. Army has a unique approach with the transfer portal, they don’t recruit from it because of the rigorous commitment that comes with going to a military institute.
The first quarter saw a lot of action once both teams were able to get a hold of the others’ defense and adjust their offense accordingly.
After a three and out, UConn struck first when Cam Edwards escaped a defender with a jump cut and gained 34 yards before being tackled. However, on the very next play, the ball went right back to him, and he scored on a 12-yard rushing touchdown.
After Army also ended their first drive on a three and out, they kicked off their second drive with two runs from Jake Rendina and quarterback Cale Hellums. Hellums led his team in rushing this year with 1,178 yards and despite only throwing for three touchdowns this whole year, he connected with his receiver, Noah Short, for a 40-yard touchdown on the same drive.
After a punt from UConn, Army regained possession through the end of the first quarter, but they fumbled the ball and the Huskies recovered, killing all their momentum. Luckily for Army, Connecticut could not capitalize and had to punt the ball.
Chunk plays from Rendina, Hellums, and Short kept the Black Knights’ drive alive, which allowed the rookie quarterback turned running back, Godspower Nwawuihe to have a breakout moment. Army’s offensive line created a gaping hole for Nwawuihe to run through on his way to a 43-yard touchdown. This was his first touchdown of the year and contained more yards than he had rushed through the entire season combined. When asked about his efforts in the game today, he credited his teammates. “My team, they played hard. Offensive line blocked hard, coaches called a great game. They put me in positions to make plays, I just trusted in my guys and gave it my all.”
Right before the half, UConn was able to put some points on the board with a 49-yard field goal from Chris Freeman. Army took a 14-10 lead into the half.
Less than a minute into the second half, Nwawuihe struck once again, breaking multiple tackles before he ran 70 yards to the endzone to give Army a 10-point lead that they would keep building on. Nwawuihe would go on to win offensive MVP of this game for his impressive stat line of 171 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Huskies could not move the ball offensively and would punt after a three and out.
In a game where Cale Hellums only had to make seven completions to get the win, he made them when they counted the most. A 22-yard throw down the sideline to Short put the Black Knights into position to make the game a three-score difference. Short proved to be a reliable receiver with all of Hellum’s completed passes being to him.
Following four positive runs, Hellum took it in himself from the one yard line for his 17th rushing touchdown of the season. Army was in complete control with a 27-10 lead going into the fourth quarter. Head Coach, Jeff Monken praised Hellums and said, “I think he’s a really tough football player. His temperament, personality, his style, kid of fits who we are as a team. He’s tough and gritty and that’s who he is.”
With UConn turning it over on downs, the Black Knights did what they do best and took up over eight minutes in a 15-play drive that consisted of 12 run plays including another Hellums rushing touchdown.
Farrar put the Huskies on the board again with a rushing touchdown of his own, but at this point it was too late in the game for Connecticut to get back in the game.
Army, with less than six minutes left in the game, continued their bruising run attack against UConn. They ran out the clock with runs but also got to the red zone and scored one last time. The Army Black Knights would dominantly win the 2025 Fenway Bowl 41-16.
Despite defensive losses of two senior captains in Kalib Fortner and Andon Thomas, the Black Knights have pieces for next year that will look to carry over momentum into the 2026 season. Nwawuihe proved he can be an explosive play maker to help the strong run game and Hellums will lead the team as a senior.
As for UConn, even though this historic season ended in a disappointing loss, a new era begins behind new head coach, Jason Candle, who will be coming to Storrs from Toledo where he had a 79-44 record.
Joe Fagnano and Skyler Bell will both be participating in the East West Shrine Bowl in January of 2026, aiming to improve their draft stock. Bell is coming off a season where he was named an All American, the first in UConn football history.
With both teams' seasons now coming to an end, all efforts are now towards the 2026 season.
