STORRS, Conn. (AP) _ Backup quarterback Luke Richmond and flanker John Fitzsimmons hooked up on two touchdown passes in the third quarter to rally Connecticut to a 29-24 victory over Northeastern Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

The game came down to the final play when a 29-yard touchdown pass to Northeastern wide receiver David Sofran was ruled a trapped ball as time expired. A referee initially signaled it a touchdown but was later overruled.

UConn snapped a three-game losing streak and improved to 4-5 and 3-3 in the Atlantic 10 Conference. Northeastern (1-8, 0-6) lost its eighth straight game.

Northeastern got off to a fast start, intercepting a UConn pass on the third play of the game, which led to a 28-yard field goal by Joe Connolly. The visitors then made it 10-0 on a one-yard quarterback keeper by Adam Browne.

UConn tailback Taber Small cut the margin to 10-7 on a two-yard run with 30 seconds left in the first quarter. Connecticut went ahead 14-10 when Antonio Grant recovered a blocked punt in the end zone. But Northeastern countered with 9:48 left to take the lead 17-14 on Browne's one-yard sneak.

Connecticut scored 15 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a 29-17 lead. Marc Hickok kicked a 21-yard field goal and Richmond teamed with Fitzsimmons on touchdown passes of seven and four yards. The extra-point kick was blocked after the first score and a two-point pass play failed on the other.

Northeastern came back at the start of the fourth quarter, narrowing the margin to 29-24 on a five-yard run by tailback Tim Gale.