SOUTH BEND, Ind. — After a string of stinging losses, the Connecticut Huskies finally won one for their slain teammate.
Coach Randy Edsall called the Huskies’ double-overtime victory against Notre Dame the program’s “best win.”
On the other side, Charlie Weis was left to try to explain another jarring loss on senior day and wonder if it will be his last game at Notre Dame stadium as Fighting Irish coach.
Andre Dixon scored on a 4-yard touchdown run in the second overtime to give the Huskies a 33-30 victory, their first since cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death last month.
“Jazz this is for you,” Edsall said, referring to Howard by his nickname. “Best win we have ever had.”
Edsall said beating the Irish (6-5) was big, but getting the first win after the death of Howard was much bigger.
“You’ve got to understand what this team has gone through,” he said. “A couple of close games, and then you lose a teammate, you lose a brother, you lose a son, and you’re trying so hard to honor him by winning on the field. We hadn’t done that.”
Edsall said the Huskies will send the game ball to Howard’s mother, Joanglia, stepfather, Henry Williams, and the rest of his family in Miami. The Huskies (5-5) had lost three straight painfully close games since Howard was killed.
Syracuse 31, Rutgers 13
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Greg Paulus had 142 yards passing and Syracuse earned its first conference victory of the season with a 31-13 upset of No. 25 Rutgers on Saturday.
Syracuse (4-7, 1-5 Big East) jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back. Antwon Bailey scored on a 14-yard run and Delone Carter added a 5-yard run.
Syracuse outgained Rutgers 259 to 82 in the first half. Syracuse sacked Tom Savage five times in the half, two of which came in the final drive for the Scarlet Knights (7-3, 2-3).
Savage was sacked nine times in the game, which ties the school record for Syracuse.
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