Storrs — As a home-grown talent, junior Noel Thomas has an extra appreciation for the UConn football program's transformation into a bowl-bound team.

Thomas, a Norwalk resident and graduate of St. Luke's School in New Canaan, heard from numerous friends and family members after Saturday's upset of No. 13 Houston.

"Everybody was just really proud of me," Thomas said.

It was a good day for several former Connecticut standouts, including tailback Arkeel Newsome (Ansonia) and quarterback Tim Boyle (Middlefield, Xavier).

"It definitely means a lot, being from Connecticut...," Thomas said. "It definitely means a lot to my school. It's just a great feeling to make plays and win games like this when you're in your own state."

By the time the Huskies (6-5, 4-3) gathered as a team on Monday, they switched gears and put their entire focus on their road game against No. 25 Temple (9-2, 6-1) on Saturday night. It is their regular season finale.

"We got to celebrate and now we're moving on to Temple," Thomas said.

Thomas has played a starring role for the Huskies, who are riding a season-high three game winning streak. He leads the team in receptions (49), touchdown receptions (three) and receiving yards per game (59.6).

Two of his touchdown catches came in the 20-17 win on Saturday. He finished with seven catches for 108 yards. His productive performance earned him his first American Athletic Conference offensive player of the week award.

"My confidence level is rising every week," Thomas said. "That's the biggest thing right there. If you're confident, you play better."

Coach Bob Diaco has watched Thomas experience a growth spurt, as a player and a person. Thomas has grabbed the leadership reins, help his younger receivers.

"Noel is taking care of a lot of areas in his life that have distracted him, not that it's all peaches and cream right now... But it's so much better than it ever was. That's a brick or several bricks that he's lifted off the load.

"... He comes here to get ready to play well, in meetings, in the strength and conditioning component, when he's eating in the dining hall and then on the practice field. He's also asserted himself as a leader."

UConn's injury situation isn't as encouraging.

Starting tight end Tommy Myers is out for the season with a lower leg injury. He suffered the injury in the first half against Houston.

It's a big loss for the Huskies, who relied on Myers for his ability as a blocker and receiver (16 catches, 232 yards, two TDs). It will mean more snaps for freshman Chris Lee.

"It's a big deal because he wanted to continue to play," Diaco said. "But it won't be anything that lingers into the future. ... I'd be shocked if he's not fully participating in winter conditioning."

It's hard to tell when starting quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, who took a shot to the head Saturday and didn't return, will be back on the field. His status is day-to-day, according to Diaco.

"He was feeling much better on Sunday than he was Saturday night," Diaco said. "He was feeling better Monday than he was Sunday."

News and notes

• Diaco on facing Temple: "A very, very exciting match-up on our half of the conference. An exciting game against a great team." ... UConn is on Thanksgiving break this week. ... Diaco hopes UConn fans travel to Philadelphia Saturday to support the Huskies. "This is a nice close one that they'll be able to get down to and I can't wait to see them there." Game time is 7 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe