EAST HARTFORD — The 41-point lead, the 14 seconds remaining, called for the “ victory formation ,” from which the quarterback takes a knee to kill the clock. But UConn coach Jim Mora took a timeout to milk two more plays, putting the ball twice in freshman Soren Rief’s hands.

“When they told me to get on the bike and warm up, it was crazy, I was in shock,” Rief said. “Right before I went out, Coach Mora pulled me aside and said, ‘do this for your mom.’ That just meant everything to me and my family.”

Moments later, the game ended and Mora went over to explain it to Florida International coach Willie Simmons, that there was no rubbing-in intended after the Huskies’ 51-10 victory at Rentschler Field . Then Mora went to his players, who were ready to celebrate his 100th victory as an

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