We punted only once on Saturday. Look back at the drives that didn't end in scores:
* 42 yard drive that ends at the UConn 32 with a fumble by Bernard on 2nd down. Hard to fault Anae for someone fumbling. Also hard to fault a true freshman getting one of his first career carries. He'll improve.
* 29 yard drive that ends at the UConn 29 with a missed FG by Samson from 48. Can't fault Anae for the missed FG. Drive nearly ended in a TD from Mangum to MLP before the missed FG.
* 3-and-out only one of the night and only punt of the night
* 44 yard drive - threw INT in endzone on first down from UConn 37. Mangum forced the ball deep when he had a wide open intermediate route that would have likely gained 30. Freshman mistake by Mangum. He'll learn. Again not the fault of Anae.
* 63 yard drive - FG blocked with 7 seconds left in the half on 3rd and 2.
* 41 yard drive to UConn 34 ended in interception on 4th and 1. Maybe the one call that deserves some legitimate criticism, but if the play succeeds, no one is complaining.
* All five 4th Q possessions ended in scores.
That game was very close to being a 50-point game if a few execution errors are corrected. Execution errors are going to happen when you have a QB who was in Chile four months ago with a bunch of inexperienced running backs in the backfield with him. There's plenty of hope for optimism, though. Even though Mangum is making a few freshman mistakes here and there, he is very far along considering the circumstances.