East Hartford — Judging from early reviews, UConn's new uptempo, no-huddle offense is a big hit.

Offensive players gave two thumbs up after the annual spring football game at Rentschler field on Friday night.

The Huskies even found the end zone — something that they needed a GPS to locate last season — six times in the scrimmage.

"I love it, period," said quarterback Bryant Shirreffs, who started with the first team. "It's just fun. It's been such a learning process. Just to be able to go out with your friends and have fun, it's awesome. That's why we started playing football."

It certainly wasn't any fun for the Huskies, especially the offensive players, during last year's dismal 3-9 season. They averaged just 14.8 points per game and scored just 16 points in the last four games.

There were definitely signs of progress in the first public scrimmage with coach Randy Edsall in charge. The Huskies ran 14 spring practices prior to taking the field.

The scrimmage started out as first team offense vs. first team defense and second teamers squaring off. But Edsall eventually switched some players, so it's hard to declare a winning team.

The final score: UConn 27, Huskies 24

"It was a good night," Edsall said. "It was a good night for our guys to experience something different this spring. We've practiced in the great elements of the Shenkman Training Center all spring. To have to come out here tonight and adjust to the weather. ... I thought they handled it really well.

"Pleased with the effort this evening. Of course, there's things that we did well and there's things that we've got to work on. Overall, the thing that I like from where we started from the first practice to the end of this practice, we got better and we improved."

Right from the start, both teams operated at a fast pace, with the first team offense hurrying on to the field for the first series.

Both sides scored in the first quarter — with Shirreffs connecting with Tyraiq Beals on a 6-yard pass and redshirt freshman Nate Hopkins scoring the first of his three touchdowns, running it in from one yard out. Hopkins (11 carries, 42 yards) and redshirt freshman Ja'Kevious Vickers (eight carries, 47 yards) were the leading rushers.

The last time the Huskies scored a touchdown in the first quarter?

Last year's spring game.

Outside of a lull in the second quarter, the offense looked relatively sharp. Neither offensive unit committed a false start.

The defense made some big plays, too, forcing a fumble with redshirt freshman Tahj Herring-Wilson recovering it in the end zone for a touchdown.

Shirreffs, who opened last season as the starter and appeared in nine games, completed 19 of 33 passes for 310 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Bisack started as the second team quarterback and went 19-for-29 for 222 yards and had one touchdown pass.

"The efficiency in the offense is just unbelievable," Shirreffs said. "It's a pleasure to be a part of and to be able to learn. It's by no means easy to learn. It's challenging and then very rewarding when you put the work in and you understand things. ... It's definitely encouraging to see productive plays and a lot of points being scored and seeing the defense tired.

"It's a good feeling and then everybody smiling on the offense."

Another good sign: several big offensive plays.

"We executed some of the plays on offense tonight for big plays that we weren't making in some of the scrimmages," Edsall said. "We have an offense that we're going to have the ability to make big plays. When you have the ability, you've got to make sure that you make them and take advantage of them."

Take the third quarter.

Bisack hooked up with Beals on a 53-yard pass play. Beals raced down the sideline,  shook the last defender and danced into the end zone.

One play later, Shirreffs executed a flea-flicker, finding a wide open Hergy Mayala for an 80-yard touchdown.

"It was definitely fun," said Mayala, who had three receptions for a team-best 111 yards. "I hadn't had that one in awhile."

Now the Huskies go into off-season workout mode. The team will gather again for preseason camp in late July.

Edsall will meet with his coaching staff on Sunday to evaluate the spring. The coaches will hit the recruiting trail.

Already about 20 newcomers are expected  to join the team this summer.

"I think we have a really good feel for what these guys can do and what they can't do," Edsall said.

g.keefe@theday.com