So what did we witness during the first half, when UConn scored late to take 14-7 lead?

The Huskies’ running game, as expected, was solid. Jordan Todman is already over 100 yards (14 carries, 111 yards) and Andre Dixon has 45 more and ran hard inside.

UConn’s passing game, also as expected, was inconsistent.

Zach Frazer, who looked nervous early (a number of his passes sailed high), was 6-for-14 for 78 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Dixon helped Frazer on the first TD, picking up a blitz so Frazer could find fullback Anthony Davis out of the backfield for a 4-yard TD.

Then Ohio U. had a breakdown in the secondary and Frazer found a wide-open Brad Kanuch from 35 yards out with 1:10 left in the half.

Frazer also threw two interceptions, one that went off the hands of freshman Dwayne Difton and the second one when he threw high into coverage and the ball sailed off the hands of Kasif Moore and was picked up.

Desi Cullen also hurt the Huskies by when two of his kickoffs went out of bounds, allowing Ohio to start two drives from the 40.

The good news: UConn’s defense. Save for one a couple of big plays, including a 44-yard TD pass when freshman safety Jerome Junior was burned, the defense was solid, limiting Ohio to only 27 rushing yards on 15 carries and getting a pair of sacks from end Trevardo Williams, a true freshman from Bridgeport Central.

From Columbus to Athens to another season

Spent Friday night in Columbus, a 90-minute trip from of Athens and one of the great college cities in America.

At every turn … hotel lobbies, restaurants, bars and street corners … people of all ages were dressed in Ohio State scarlet and gray.

It was also made me realize that although UConn has made great strides in a short time as a Division I-A program (I hate calling it by its new name – Football Bowl Subdivision), the Huskies still have a long way to catch up with the nation’s elite.

Nor should they expected to be at this juncture.

In a perfect world, the Storrs campus could be lifted and dropped right on the Hartford city line. The campus could still thrive and so would downtown Hartford with students, alumni, friends and opposing fans on nights before football.

But back to reality.

It’s 90 minutes before game time and the Huskies, decked out in all white (for those of you fashion-conscious fans), have been filtering onto the Peden Stadium field for some informal stretching, etc.

One player not on the trip is true freshman Marcus Aiken. The former St. Paul of Bristol star was listed No. 2 on the depth chart at free safety, but just made the move from wide receiver less than two weeks ago and you can bet coach Randy Edsall is trying to make preserve and protect his redshirt, if possible. Plus the Huskies are expect Aaron Bagsby to return from a suspension, possibly for the home open against No. 21 North Carolina next Saturday.

If you’re looking for keys early, watch the offensive and defensive lines. If the offensive line is able to get a strong push off the line of scrimmage and the defensive line is able to get pressure on Ohio University quarterback Boo Jackson early – without blitzing – it should be a long night for the Bobcats.

And keep this stat in mind: UConn is 14-1 against Mid-American Conference opponents (the only loss was to Bowling Green in 2002) and the Huskies have won 12 straight games against MAC teams by nearly 19 points per game.

Will check in again at halftime, possibly after the game (although my regular newspaper deadline could make that impossible and definitely on Sunday with some post-game thoughts and observations.