Syracuse University
AUBURN
Syracuse Wins Second Straight, 31-14 Against Auburn
10/2/2001 9:25:00 AM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Notes
Syracuse Quotes
Auburn Quotes
Syracuse, N.Y. - James Mungro rushed for 142 yards and a career-high three touchdowns to lead the Syracuse football team to a 31-14 victory versus the Auburn Tigers in front of 43,403 fans at the Carrier Dome. The Orangemen are now 2-2 on the season, while Auburn is 2-1.
After a stirring pregame tribute, including remarks by Governor George Pataki, honoring the victims of the tragedies in New York, Washington, D.C. and Western Pennsylvania on Sept. 11, the Orangemen and the Tigers took the field for the first time since Sept. 8.
Mungro reached a number of milestones in the victory. He became the 15th SU player to run for more than 2,000 yards in a career. Mungro now has 2,088 yards in his career, putting him 13th on the Orangemen's all-time rushing list. He passed Michael Owens and Marty Januskiewicz, and is only four yards from surpassing Jim Brown for 12th-place all-time. The effort also was the eighth time he reached the century mark in his career, tying him with Bill Hurley for sixth-place on the Syracuse all-time l00-yard rushing games list.
Auburn got on the scoreboard first, taking a 7-0 lead on quarterback Jason Campbell's 44-yard scramble. It was the longest run of his career and second rushing touchdown.
The SU offense responded to the challenge with a 15-play, 80-yard drive, capped by Mungro's first touchdown of the game, a two-yard plunge.
Syracuse took the lead for good in the second quarter. The defense set up the score when Dwight Freeney sacked Campbell, forcing a fumble that the Orange recovered on the Auburn 45-yard line. Mungro broke off a 34-yard run on the next play, putting SU in scoring range. Quarterback R.J. Anderson did the honors with an eight-yard run, his first rushing touchdown of the season. Syracuse went into halftime with a 14-7 lead.
Mungro reached the endzone for the second time in the game, giving the Orangemen a 21-7 lead with 8:55 left in the third quarter. The score topped off an 11-play, 48-yard drive.
Syracuse stretched the lead to 28-7 on a 20-yard run by Mungro. The score was set up by Auburn's fourth turnover of the game. Latroy Oliver forced a fumble by Justin Fetsko on what would've been a big play by Auburn. Quentin Harris recovered the fumble.
SU's final score came on a 40-yard field goal by Justin Sujansky. Again, a turnover led to points as Freeney forced and recoverd a fumble on his second sack of the game.
Freeney extended his consecutive games with a sack streak to 12. His second sack in the fourth quarter, marked the sixth straight game he has had at least two. He now has 24.5 sacks, tying him with Duke Pettijohn for second on the all-time SU sack list. Freeney and Pettijohn are tied for seventh on the BIG EAST career sack ledger.
The Tigers scored their final touchdown on a 21-yard pass from Campbell to Chris Butler with 2:38 left in the game.
Anderson rushed 11 times for 59 yards and a touchdown. He went 6-for-15 with 74 yards through the air.
Campbell completed 11-of-20 passes for 155 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Casinious Moore led the Tigers on the ground with 13 carries for 62 yards.
The Syracuse defense forced five turnovers, the most since last season's season-opening win versus Buffalo. Freeney forced two fumbles, while Oliver intercepted his first pass since 1999 when he returned one for a touchdown versus Temple.
The Orangemen play the final game of a three-game homestand on Saturday, Sept. 29 versus East Carolina. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
