East Hartford – UConn football fans witnessed something Saturday almost as rare as a Sasquatch or Loch Ness monster sighting.

They saw an record-setting offensive performance by the Huskies.

In a 63-17 rout of Merrimack, UConn shattered school records as a Football Bowl Subdivision program for most points in a quarter (35), half (56) and matched the mark for points in a game set in 2002 against Kent State.

The win mattered much more than the margin of victory to the Huskies (1-1), who have suffered their share of lopsided defeats in recent years, including a 50-7 loss at Maryland last week.

An announced crowd of 32,351 turned out for the game against the Warriors, a Football Championship Subdivision team.

“You obviously want to assert your dominance and show that you are a good football team at the FBS level,” redshirt senior Jelani Stafford said. “But as long as we get the win, that’s all that matters at the end of the day. Everybody is happy, everybody is joyous. The fans are happy when you give them a win for the state of Connecticut, so that’s great.”

UConn (1-1) received contributions from a number of players. Eight different Huskies scored touchdowns.

Senior quarterback Joe Fagnano, who started in place of injured starter Nick Evers (concussion), tied Dan Orlovsky’s single-game record with five touchdown passes and ran for another score before heading to the bench late in the third quarter. He finished 13 for 19 for 328 yards.

In another eye-popping feat, UConn scored on its first eight possessions, with six scores covering 29 yards or more, and finished with a program-record 624 yards of total offense. Merrimack (0-2) totaled 279 yards.

“I like the way we started, especially on offense,” coach Jim Mora said. “We came out and we were able to get some big plays out of players that we’re depending on to make big plays. Joe did a really nice job. We ran the ball well.

“You can see that we’ve got some playmakers that can go do some things. Defensively, we’re still a work in progress. We’ve still got to become a better tackling team. I think we’re adapting to the scheme a little bit. But we have to make huge progress and we have to make it right now.”

Redshirt junior receiver Skyler Bell, a transfer from Wisconsin, is one of those playmakers. He led the Huskies in receiving yards for the second straight game, finishing with 105 on two catches. Eighty-six of his yards came after the catch.

“I feel like I’m starting to prove that I’m one of the best receivers in the nation,” Bell said. “That was my goal coming here, to help improve the team and win a lot of football games here. I think we’re on the right track with that.”

Offensively, the Huskies made it look easy, efficiently and effectively moving the football down the field. They went 75 yards in five plays in the game’s opening possession, capped off by Fagnano sneaking in from the one.

The early score gave the Huskies a shot of confidence.

“When we lost the coin toss and we got the ball, I was excited for the offense to go out there and set the tone and we did,” Fagnano said. “When you start fast like that and get momentum, it makes it so much easier. Things just get rolling and rolling.”

UConn needed only a total of 14 plays to find the end zone over the next five possessions and take a 42-7 lead in the second quarter.

Cam Edwards caught a swing pass out of the backfield and finished off a 50-yard touchdown play. Then Durell Robinson bolted 48 yards on the next drive’s first play. Victor Rosa (29-yard run) and Bell (60-yard touchdown reception) increased the lead to 35-7 late in the first quarter.

And the rout was on.

Up 56-7 at the break, Fagnano remained in the game to start the third quarter. He threw his fifth touchdown pass to his fifth different receiver, connecting with tight end Alex Honig for a one-yard scoring strike.

Mora emptied his bench, giving redshirt sophomore Tucker McDonald and freshman Cole Welliver their first action at quarterback.

“It was good to get those guys some time so they can see that and they can learn from it,” Mora said. “I would have loved to have gotten some stops on defense so we could have gotten those guys some more snaps.”

UConn’s schedule takes a tougher turn next weekend with a trip to play Duke (2-0).

“We’ve got a great test,” Mora said. “It’s been quite a while since this program has gone on the road and beat a power conference team and it’s going to be a really tough task at Duke.”

News and notes

Mora praised the UConn student section after the game. “In my two years and one game (here), that was the best I’ve ever seen pre-game. They were into it. They were in their seats early. I guarantee you it matters to our football players.” … Robinson rushed for a team-high 94 yards. … UConn’s 46-point margin of victory was the largest since a 45-10 win over Memphis in 2013. … Redshirt senior linebacker Jayden McDonald had a team-best eight tackles.

g.keefe@theday.com