Despite three teams’ enjoying bye weeks, the 12th week of the BIG EAST football season provided plenty of excitement thanks to a thrilling finish and some record-breaking performances.
The most exciting game of the day took place in South Bend, Ind., where Connecticut picked up, “the best win we’ve ever had,” in the words of head coach Randy Edsall. Andre Dixon’s 4-yard touchdown run in the second overtime period gave the Huskies a 33-30 win against Notre Dame, snapping a string of three consecutive heartbreaking losses for Connecticut.
Connecticut’s ground game was too much for the Fighting Irish to overcome as the Huskies received 100-yard days from Dixon (114 yards) and Jordan Todman (130 yards). Todman also delivered a huge play on special teams when he answered a Notre Dame field goal with a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Quarterback Zach Frazer — a transfer from Notre Dame — threw for 141 yards and a touchdown against his former team, helping Connecticut even its record at 5-5.
In BIG EAST play, Syracuse delivered arguably its best performance under first-year head coach Doug Marrone with a solid 31-13 win against Rutgers at the Carrier Dome. Despite losing no fewer than six starters to season-ending injuries this year, the Orange finished with a 424-130 advantage in total yards and tied a school record with nine sacks against the Scarlet Knights.
Syracuse’s defensive effort was keyed by linebacker Doug Hogue, who had a school-record 6.5 tackles for loss to go with 3.5 sacks and a forced fumble and was chosen as the Walter Camp Football Foundation National Defensive Player of the Week. Safety Randy McKinnon and linebacker E.J. Carter finished with two sacks each and safety Mike Holmes had two interceptions.
The Orange saw three running backs go for at least 60 yards and a touchdown each, with Antwon Bailey’s 77-yard effort leading the way. Quarterbacks Greg Paulus and Ryan Nassib combined to go 17-for-22 for 211 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions as Syracuse picked up its first BIG EAST win and improved to 4-7 overall.
Rutgers linebacker Ryan D’Imperio had a career-high 14 tackles as the Scarlet Knights saw a three-game winning streak snapped. The Scarlet Knights are 7-3 overall and 2-3 in BIG EAST play.
USF showed no ill effects from a disappointing loss at Rutgers last weekend as the Bulls rode a record-breaking day from quarterback B.J. Daniels to a 34-22 win against Louisville at Raymond James Stadium.
Daniels completed 20 of 34 passes for 304 yards and a touchdown and finished with 141 rushing yards and two TDs on 22 carries. In doing so, he became the first player in BIG EAST history to pass for at least 300 yards and rush for at least 100 yards in the same game. He is the 28th player in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history to do it.
USF wide receiver A.J. Love benefitted from Daniels’ effort with four receptions for a career-high 121 yards. Linebacker Kion Wilson had 12 tackles for the Bulls, who became bowl-eligible at 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the BIG EAST.
Louisville (4-7, 1-5 BIG EAST) was led by quarterback Adam Froman, who completed 20 of 35 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. Scott Long had six catches for 96 yards and a TD, and the Cardinals received a spark on special teams for Trent Guy, who scored on a 60-yard punt return.
All eight teams are back in action this week, with three games Friday and a pair of games Saturday.
Courtesy: Associated Press
