UConn’s defense picked up right where it left off on Saturday night as the Huskies downed Florida International 33-12 to improve to 3-4 on the season. It is the first time the Huskies have won at least three games since 2017.

Unlike the tough five-game stretch that led up to Fresno State last week, the Huskies dominated the turnover battle at FIU Stadium in Miami.

Setting the tone on the Panthers’ opening drive, UConn linebacker Jackson Mitchell recovered a fumbled snap and got the defense off the field around the 12-minute mark.

Not long after, UConn quarterback Zion Turner got the offense going in front of his hometown fans in Miami.

The offensive line, with a size advantage for the first time since playing Central Connecticut on Sept. 3, opened holes wide enough for running back Devontae Houston to gain chunks of yardage down into FIU territory. After 11 plays, picking up 75 yards in just over five minutes, freshman Victor Rosa crossed the goal line from 5 yards out to score his third touchdown of the season and put the Huskies up, 7-0.

On the next FIU drive, the UConn defense stepped up again. A chunk play through the air got the Panthers onto UConn’s side of the field but, on fourth-and-12, FIU quarterback Grayson James’ pass was intercepted by Tre Wortham for his second interception of the season.

On the ensuing drive, taking advantage of an FIU running into the kicker penalty on a Noe Ruelas field goal attempt, Rosa fought his way into the end zone from 4 yards on the next play to put the Huskies up, 14-0.

A Ruelas field goal with just over a minute to go in the first half made it 17-0 and appeared to be the final score of the half. But, one play later, James threw the ball straight into Wortham’s hands for his second interception of the game. Ruelas added another three points as time expired in the half, allowing the Huskies to enter the locker room up 20-0.

Saturday was the second game of Wortham’s college career where he nabbed multiple interceptions. He had a pair against Yale last season.

Houston had two runs of more than 50 yards in the first half, though the first, which looked like an 80-yard touchdown, was called back due to a holding penalty at the line. He totaled 135 yards on 12 carries before being injured and removed early in the third quarter.

The sophomore from Alabama has been battling a shoulder injury for the last several weeks while taking the brunt of the rushing load without starter Nate Carter. Despite the soreness, Houston recorded over 100 yards in each of the last two games.

Rosa ran for 61 yards two plays after Houston was injured during the Huskies’ second drive of the third quarter, the longest run of his college career.

Three plays later, UConn got tricky.

Turner took the snap and handed to Rosa, who then flipped it back to backup quarterback Cale Millen as Turner floated toward the open space in the back of the end zone. Millen’s pass, across his body running to his right, found Turner in light traffic to give the Huskies a 26-7 lead.

UConn didn’t get through the game without more injury woes. Houston went down in the third quarter and center Jake Guidone limped off the field in the fourth. A few plays later, Guidone’s replacement Christopher Fortin snapped the ball over Millen’s head and through the back of the end zone for a safety.

Just like that, it was a 14-point game with just over five minutes remaining. But, the UConn defense wasn’t done. The Huskies forced a pair of incompletions on third and fourth down near midfield to turn the Panthers over on downs and get the ball back to Rosa, Millen and the offense to end it. Millen added another touchdown with 2:56 on the clock after an option play got the FIU defense and gave him a clear, 49-yard path to the end zone.

UConn heads to Ball State next Saturday at 2 p.m.