Connecticut’s Andre Dixon was waiting for an opportunity to show he’s still a big-time running back. He got it yesterday.
The senior carried the ball a career-high 33 times for 153 yards and three touchdowns as UConn beat Louisville, 34-25, in Hartford for the Huskies’ first Big East win of the season.
“It was fun, man,’’ he said. “I got an opportunity out there, and I seized it.’’
It was Dixon’s third 100-yard game this season, and seventh of his career. After running for more than 800 yards as a sophomore, Dixon sat most of last season behind 2,000-yard rusher Donald Brown, and has been splitting time this year with sophomore Jordan Todman.
Quarterback Cody Endres and receiver Marcus Easley also had big days as UConn (4-2, 1-1) beat the Cardinals (2-4, 0-2) for the third consecutive season.
Endres threw for 273 yards and a touchdown, and Easley had 108 receiving yards, including a 16-yard touchdown on a screen pass, and a 46-yard reception that set up a field goal.
Richmond 38, Maine 21 - Eric Ward ran for a touchdown and passed for another to rally the No. 1 Spiders, who trailed the host Black Bears, 14-10, at halftime.
It was the 15th straight win for Richmond (6-0, 4-0 Colonial Athletic Association), which has the longest streak in the Championship Subdivision. Richmond scored 28 unanswered points in the second half to overwhelm Maine (3-3, 2-2).
Maine’s Warren Smith was 35 of 58 for 327 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a score. Tyrell Jones caught nine passes for 78 yards, including touchdowns of 21 and 14 yards.
Hofstra 28, Rhode Island 16 - Steve Probst threw for one touchdown and ran for another to lead the visiting Pride (4-3, 2-2 CAA) past the Rams.
Chris Paul-Etienne completed 19 of 32 passes for 207 yards and ran for a TD for URI (1-5, 0-3).
Central Conn. 31, Duquesne 24 - In Pittsburgh, Hunter Wanket threw three touchdown passes and James Mallory rushed for 121 yards and a TD to rally the Blue Devils (5-1, 3-0 Northeast) past the Dukes (2-5, 1-3).
Albany 20, Bryant 17 - Vinny Esposito passed for 280 yards and two TDs and the Great Danes (5-2, 4-0) won their 17th straight Northeast Conference game by holding off the visiting Bulldogs (3-3, 2-1).
Monmouth 42, Sacred Heart 20 - Kyle Frazier threw for 322 yards and four touchdowns and David Sinisi had three scores to help the visiting Hawks (3-3, 2-1 Northeast) win the passing duel with Dale Fink and the Pioneers (1-5, 1-3). Fink was 36 of 54 for 373 yards and two TDs.
Bentley 28, Pace 27 - Bryant Johnson (29 for 58, 338 yards) tossed an 8-yard TD pass to Kelley Rowe with 18 seconds left, helping the visiting Falcons (7-1, 5-1 Northeast-10) avert an upset by the winless Setters (0-7, 0-5).
Merrimack 48, New Haven 20 - James Suozzo passed for 209 yards and a pair of touchdowns and rushed for 81 yards and three scores as the Warriors (5-2, 4-1 NE-10) rolled over the visiting Chargers (3-4, 2-4).
Southern Conn. 42, Stonehill 14 - Chris Roberts passed for 267 yards and four TDs and John Wiechman rushed for 137 yards on 11 carries with a TD to power the host Owls (5-3, 5-1 NE-10) past the Skyhawks (2-5, 1-4).
Assumption 45, Saint Anselm 12 - Herbert Woodard rushed for 163 yards on 17 carries and scored four TDs to push the Greyhounds (5-2, 4-1 NE-10) past the host Hawks (2-5, 1-4).
Curry 37, Endicott 6 - Zach Cavanaugh passed for 178 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Colonels (5-2, 4-0 NEFC) past the Gulls (3-4, 1-3) for their fifth straight win.
Jamaal Woods ran for 105 yards on 12 carries for Curry, which remains tied atop the Boyd Division with Plymouth State, with the teams meeting next week in Milton.
Plymouth St. 48, Nichols 30 - J.J. Brooks completed all nine of his passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns, leading the host Panthers (6-1, 4-0 NEFC) past the Bison (3-4, 2-2) for their sixth straight win.
Bridgewater St. 27, Coast Guard 6 - Justin Fuller rushed for 156 yards and a TD and Steven Clark added 128 yards and another score to boost the visiting Bears (5-2, 3-1 NEFC) past Coast Guard (2-2, 2-4).
Maine Maritime 41, Mass. Maritime 34 - Jim Bower rushed for 255 yards on 41 carries and four touchdowns, leading the visiting Mariners (5-1, 3-1 NEFC) past the Buccaneers (2-5, 1-3).
WNEC 59, MIT 21 - Brendon Thompson tied a Division 3 record with two kickoff returns for touchdowns, covering 89 and 79 yards, and the Golden Bears (3-4, 2-2 NEFC) set a school scoring mark in their home rout of the Engineers (1-5, 1-3).
Worcester St. 20, Fitchburg St. 10 - Tony Tokarz passed for 116 yards and a touchdown and ran for 87 yards and another score as the host Lancers (1-6, 1-3 NEFC) got past the Falcons (4-3, 2-2).
Salve Regina 49, UMass-Dartmouth 14 - Jeff St. Onge passed for 206 yards and two TDs and ran for 116 yards and two more scores as the host Seahawks (3-4, 2-2 NEFC) routed the Corsairs (0-7, 0-4).
Trinity 10, Tufts 3 - Craig Drusbosky scored on a 6-yard run with 4:58 left in the third quarter to break a 3-3 tie and the visiting Bantams (4-0), ranked No. 1 in New England in Division 3, held on to edge the Jumbos (2-2) to win their 14th in a row.
Amherst 23, Colby 13 - Eric Bunker blocked a punt and returned it 4 yards for a TD to break a 7-7 tie, lifting the Lord Jeffs (4-0) over the host White Mules (1-3).
Williams 37, Middlebury 27 - Donald McKillop threw for three touchdowns and ran for a fourth, but the visiting Ephs (3-1) were able to fight off the Panthers (1-3).
