University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
Syracuse
Huskies Become Bowl Eligible With 56-31 Thumping Of Syracuse
11/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 28, 2009
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EAST HARTFORD, Conn. - Senior running back Andre Dixon (New Brunswick, N.J.) scored three touchdowns and junior linebacker Lawrence Wilson (Tuscaloosa, Ala.) had 17 tackles to give the University of Connecticut a 56-31 BIG EAST Conference football victory over Syracuse Saturday afternoon before a sellout crowd of 40,000 at Rentschler Field.
The victory, which makes the Huskies bowl-eligible for the third consecutive season, moves the Connecticut record to 6-5 and 2-4 in conference games. The Orange finish their season at 4-8, 1-6 in league play.
The Huskies scored on their first possession after holding Syracuse to a three-and-out on the game's opening possession and Orange punter Rob Long's punt got caught up in the brisk wind that plagued the entire contest and went just 13 yards. Eight plays later, Dixon scored from the four to put the Huskies in front and give them a lead they would never relinquish.
After a Syracuse field goal, Mike Lang (Largo, Fla.) returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for the Huskies' third kickoff return for a touchdown of the season. Ryan Nassib, who split quarterbacking duties for the Orange with Greg Paulus, connected with Mike Owen on a four-yard touchdown to bring Syracuse within four, at 14-10. Later in the second quarter, Twyon Martin (Parkland, Fla.) recovered a Delone Carter fumble setting up the Huskies at the Syracuse 43. One play later, sophomore running back Jordan Todman (North Dartmouth, Mass.) rambled in from the 37 to put the Huskies ahead, 21-10. The run gave Todman exactly 1,000 rushing yards this season and the score was Todman's 15th touchdown on the season. Todman finished with 123 yards on 25 carries, the most yards surrendered this season on the ground by a back by Syracuse, who entered the contest as the ninth-stingiest against the run in the nation. He now has 1,079 yards this season (ninth-best at Connecticut) and has 14 rushing touchdowns, which is fifth-best at Connecticut.
Alec Lemon caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Paulus with just 1:08 to play before intermission, but the Huskies quickly answered before halftime. The key play on the drive before Dixon capped the drive with a one-yard run was a 42-yard pass from Zach Frazer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) to Marcus Easley (Stratford, Conn.). The Huskies took a 28-17 lead into the locker room.
The Huskies continued their offensive domination in the second half when they marched 80 yards in 15 plays that saw Frazer hit Easley with an 8-yard touchdown pass. Paulus hit Lavar Lobdell with a 12-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Connecticut answered right back when Dixon scurried in from the 45 to give the Huskies a 42-24 lead.
Carter capped an 84-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run, but late in the game, with Huskies facing a fourth-and-11 from the Syracuse 28, Frazer connected again with Easley on a touchdown pass to put the Huskies back safely ahead, 49-31.
Syracuse wide receiver Antwon Bailey caught a pass from Paulus and tried to lateral to Lemon, but the ball was fumbled and Connecticut's Dwayne Gratz scooped up the errant ball and took it to the end zone with the recovery.
Dixon added 73 yards to Todman's total as the Huskies rushed for 204 yards. Frazer finished the day with 13 completions in 21 attempts with one interception and the two touchdowns to Easley. Easley, who did not score a touchdown in his first 26 games at Connecticut, has now scored in six of his last seven contests. He finished with six catches, 105 receiving yards and his first multiple-touchdown game of his career.
Carter led the Orange running game with 102 yards on 20 carries, while Paulus finished with 296 yards passing on 24 completions in 32 attempts. Lemon had nine catches for 140 yards.
Even though the Connecticut defense surrendered 489 yards of total offense to the Orange, Wilson seemed to be everywhere on the field. He had 17 tackles (12 primary) and had one sack.
The Huskies will conclude the regular season portion of their schedule next Saturday, December 5 when they play host to South Florida at Rentschler Field. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. and the game will be nationally-televised by ESPN2.
Players Mentioned
