UConn knocks off Louisville

Andre Dixon dragged defenders on a 5-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left and Connecticut overcame a late 10-point deficit to beat Louisville 21-17 on Friday night, getting some help from a controversial punt return at East Hartford, Conn.

It was the biggest win of the season for UConn (6-1, 2-0 Big East), and keeps the Huskies in first place in the conference. The Cardinals, once considered national title contenders, dropped to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the Big East.

UConn scored its first points on Larry Taylor’s controversial 74-yard punt return. With the Huskies down 7-0 with 13 minutes left in the third quarter, Taylor settled under a 45-yard punt and appeared to call for a fair catch at the Connecticut 26. Replays showed Taylor putting up his right hand, and Louisville players stopped their pursuit.

Northwestern 26, Eastern Michigan 14: At Detroit, C.J. Bacher ran and threw for fourth-quarter TDs, helping the Wildcats (5-3) hold off the Eagles (2-6) in a non-conference game at Ford Field.

It took Northwestern a while to get rolling against lowly Eastern Michigan. The Wildcats didn’t put it away until Bacher hit Tim Thompson for a 71-yard touchdown with 2:44 left.