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Football Finishes Strong With 49-21 Win Over Rutgers
11/25/2000 9:18:41 PM | Football
JOHN KEKIS, AP Sports Writer
Only one other time in Syracuse history has an Orangeman rushed for more yards in a game: Joe Morris ran for 252 yards against Kansas in 1979. Brown has rushed for 1,031 yards this season, the fifth-best total in Orangemen history. In his career, he's now rushed for 2,626, also fifth on the all-time career rushing list at Syracuse.
The game, played before 35,589, was close for nearly three quarters. Rutgers led 14-7 at the half, but the Orangemen began to take charge after stopping Rutgers on downs on the SU 40 with 10:53 left in the third quarter.
Then sophomore reserve quarterback Troy Nunes entered the game and led the Orangemen on three scoring drives before the third quarter was over.
Nunes, who started the second half, replacing redshirt freshman R.J. Anderson, connected with junior wide receiver Malik Campbell for a 30-yard gain to the Rutgers 14-yard line. Junior running back James Mungro scampered into the endzone on the following play. Mike Shafer's extra point was blocked, and Rutgers held a 14-13 lead.
The next time the Orangemen got the ball, Nunes led the team on a 77-yard scoring drive, highlighed by a 44-yard pass completion to David Tyree. Nunes' five-yard touchdown run made the score 19-14, but he was shaken up on the play. Brown took the handoff from Anderson and scored the two-point conversion, pushing the score to 21-14 with 4:27 left in the third quarter.
Rutgers bounced back with an 80-yard drive that ended with a Mike McMahon four-yard touchdown run. The score was tied 21-21 after Steven Barone's kick with 2:13 left in the third quarter.
Rutgers was driving into SU territory late in the third quarter when Orangemen cornerback LaTroy Oliver forced a fumble by Rutgers wide receiver Delrico Fletcher. Syracuse senior defensive end Duke Pettiijohn recovered the ball on the Syracuse 44-yard line. Dee Brown needed just two touches to put Syracuse in the endzone. He put the Orangemen up for good with a 38-yard scamper as time expired in the third quarter. Mike Shafer kicked the extra point, giving Syracuse a 28-21 lead.
In the fourth quarter, Brown weaved through the Scarlet Knights' goal-line defense, scoring his second touchdown with 6:19 left. Shafer's kick made the score 35-21.
Brown scored his third touchdown of the game on a 19-yard run with 3:29 left. Shafer's extra point made the score 42-21. Freshman running back Diamond Ferri scored the game's final touchdown on a 10-yard run with 39 seconds left. Shafer's kick gave the game its final score, 49-21.
Earlier in the game, Rutgers scored first on a 10-play drive that quarterback Mike McMahon finished with a 10-yard touchdown run. Barone's extra-point kick gave the Scarlet Knights a 7-0 lead with 6:54 left in the first quarter.
A 42-yard run to the Rutgers 14-yard-line by Brown sparked the SU offense with 11:20 left in the half. Orangemen quarterback Anderson shoved the ball in from the one-foot line for Syracuse's first score with 8:44 left in the half. Mike Shafer's extra-point kick tied the score 7-7.
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| Syracuse linebacker Clifton Smith puts a hit on Rutgers quarterback Mike McMahon. (AP Photo/Kevin Rivoli) |
A Syracuse scoring drive was cut short with seven seconds left in the half when Jeff Olsen blocked Shafer's 38-yard-field goal attempt.
The Orangemen gained a total of 519 yards for the game, while the Scarlet Knights totalled 377. Anderson completed six passes in 13 attempts for 86 yards. Nunes completed five of seven pass attempts for 94 yards. For Rutgers, McMahon went 16-of-34 for 189 yards. He rushed for another 72 yards on 14 carries.
SU's Brown gained his 239 rushing yards in 24 carries. His three-touchdown performance was a career high. He now has 28 career rushing touchdowns and is tied with Ernie Davis for second on the all-time Syracuse list.
Junior running back James Mungro rushed for 80 yards in 12 carries and scored one touchdown. Junior wide receiver Malik Campbell led the Orangemen receivers with 59 yards on three receptions. Sophomore wide receiver David Tyree caught one pass for 44 yards and junior wide receiver Maurice Jackson caught one pass for 29 yards. Senior wideout Pat Woodcock caught three passes for 25 yards in his final game in the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse is now 6-5 for the year (4-3 BIG EAST) and is now eligible for a bowl game. Rutgers ended its season at 3-8 (0-7 in the Big East).
