East Hartford, Conn ? Rasheed Marshall almost did it all for West Virginia.

The senior quarterback rushed for 110 yards, threw for a touchdown and even punted a quick kick in the Mountaineers’ 31-19 victory over Connecticut on Wednesday night.

He sensed he could have a big night on the ground against the Huskies.

“I thought I would have a chance, especially how tight their linebackers play to the line of scrimmage,” Marshall said. “I thought if I could get outside a lot on them I could put them in for a long day.”

One more day like that and Marshall would rewrite the Big East record books. His 1,518 yards rushing is 44 yards shy of the career quarterback mark held by Syracuse’s Donovan McNabb.

“He was very sharp today mentally,” said West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, who thought his quarterback could have racked up even more yards if he stayed inbounds more.

“I had to remind him three times during the game. I said, ‘Make them catch you.”‘

The 34-yard quick-kick punt proved to be a big play. West Virginia held a 10-6 lead late in the third quarter when Marshall’s punt pinned UConn down on its own two-yard line.

Two plays later West Virginia safety Mike Lorello intercepted a pass that bounced off the foot of UConn receiver Keron Henry and ran it in 21 yards for 17-6 lead and the 17th-ranked Mountaineers (5-1, 1-0) took control the rest of the way.

West Virginia quarterback Rasheed Marshall, left, looks for room as Connecticut's Justin Perkins closes in. Marshall rushed for 110 yards and threw a touchdown pass in the Mountaineers' 31-19 victory Wednesday night in East Hartford, Conn.

“We got a lucky break there,” Rodriguez said. “We were kind of in a rut and that sparked us a little bit.”

On the next possession, Marshall hit Chris Henry for a 49-yard TD pass to extend the lead to 18 and send most of the 40,000 fans streaming for the exits.

Marshall repeatedly rescued an offense that sputtered for almost three quarters. With leading rusher Kay-Jay Harris sidelined with injuries, Marshall and Jayson Colson kept the Mountaineers’ ground game going, racking up 309 yards.