Saturday's Rutgers Homecoming Day football game had meant more to UConn running back Donald Brown than probably anybody else on the field that day.

The junior not only came into the game leading the nation in rushing, but being from Atlantic Highlands and having gone to Red Bank Catholic High School certainly carried some weight as well.

With about 300 family members and friends turning out to watch him play against the Scarlet Knights, Brown didn't disappoint them in the first half, tallying 105 yards and seemingly heading toward yet another big day.

But for the first time all season, an opposing defense finally got to him as he gained only two yards in the second half, en route to his Huskies losing a 12-10 heartbreaker as kicker Tony Ciaravino missed a late 42-yard field goal which would have sealed the game.

Even in defeat, Brown was still gracious as he walked off the field, giving his gloves to two young fans among a throng of red-wearing fans. In the end though, it wasn't about the lack of yardage or trips to the end zone on the day [zero].

"It just wasn't a very good trip home. The second half was tough on us and we were never able to get into any sort of rhythm," Brown explained. "I thought Rutgers did a real good job against our whole offense. We shot ourselves in the foot, we had plenty of chances to win the game."

For at least one of Brown's friends, the game ended up going just fine.

"It feels really nice to finally beat him, just one time," Rutgers linebacker Kevin Malast said.

Malast and Brown became friendly toward the end of their high school careers, Brown with the Caseys, and Malast at Manchester.

"We're in each other's ears a lot. I think the next few e-mails between us should be interesting," Malast said.