EAST HARTFORD, CONN.: University of Akron coach J.D. Brookhart knew it would be a challenge Saturday to play another nonconference game.

He was right.

The Zips opened Mid-American Conference play last weekend by beating Kent State. The trip to play undefeated Connecticut of the Big East didn't go as well.

It turned out to be a battle on several levels, with the Zips falling 44-10.

The Zips took a 10-9 lead in the second quarter when quarterback Chris Jacquemain connected with Jabari Arthur for a 6-yard touchdown. But the Zips (2-3, 1-0 MAC) quickly surrendered a kickoff return for a touchdown.

They then botched a chance to enter halftime with the lead by making poor decisions.

With 3:50 remaining in the first half, UA took possession on its 40-yard line and drove to the UConn 3-yard line with 24 seconds remaining. Jacquemain, despite being told by Brookhart to throw the ball away to stop the clock if a possible touchdown play didn't develop quickly, tried to run the ball but was stopped by tacklers while still standing. An official blew the play dead before Jacquemain stumbled out of bounds, and that allowed time to expire without even a field-goal attempt.

''He was instructed clearly before the play that if it's not there for a touchdown, throw it away,'' Brookhart said. ''You're not out of bounds. You have to get out clean for them to call that, and that's part of being an amateur football player. He's got to get better, and he's got to follow instructions, too.''

Jacquemain conceded that he made a mistake in trying to force something to happen.

''I thought I could run it in and tried to run it in, but I couldn't, and so I tried to get out of bounds,'' said Jacquemain, who finished 19-of-28 for 145 yards and a touchdown. Brookhart ''was just upset that if the clock had stopped, we could have gotten a field goal out of the drive.''

Although Brookhart had planned to start Carlton Jackson on Saturday, he cited an ''internal matter'' as to why Jacquemain began the game. Brookhart did not elaborate.

Jacquemain responded to the assignment by completing his first 10 passes.

''Except for the sacks and holding on to the football, I thought he executed the system pretty well, and that's why we stayed with him,'' Brookhart said. ''That was not the original plan, but we've kind of got to play the hot hand, and we thought he had it.''

Arthur led all receivers with 81 yards and the touchdown reception, and Bryan Williams gained 65 yards rushing on 13 carries.

UConn (5-0, 1-0) gained 465 yards in a balanced attack led by quarterback Tyler Lorenzen, who passed for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the win.

Brookhart said that after playing three nonconference road games against BCS opponents, the Zips have learned enough to be able to rebound and focus on making a run for the MAC title.

Linebacker Brion Stokes, who led the Zips with eight tackles, agreed. He said Saturday's game at Western Michigan, the preseason MAC favorite, will be another challenge.

''These games prepare us, but at the same time, we're coming up here to win them,'' Stokes said.