Syracuse University
Kansas State (Insight.com Bowl)
Orangemen Win Insight.com Bowl, 26-3
2/1/2002 2:30:48 PM | Football
PHOENIX, AZ - The No. 18/17 Syracuse Orangemen defeated the Kansas State Wildcats, 26-3, to become the 2001 Insight.com Bowl Champions.
Powered by three James Mungro (East Stroudsburg, PA) touchdowns and a stifling defense spearheaded by junior linebacker Clifton Smith (Freeport, NY) the Orange won its 12th bowl game in school history.
With the win SU finishes the season with a 10-3 record. The 2001 Orangemen are only the sixth Syracuse squad to accumulate 10 or more wins in one season. Three of SU's 10-win seasons have come during Paul Pasqualoni's head coaching tenure. Kansas State finished the season with a 6-6 record.
The Orangemen opened the scoring on a 65-yard touchdown run by Mungro. The senior tailback took a pitch from sophomore quarterback R.J. Anderson (Plainville, CT) and busted the run to the outside, tight-roping the sideline on the way to the endzone.
Kansas State answered the SU touchdown on the following drive. Scoring the Wildcats' only points of the game, Joe Rheem connected on a 29-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 in favor of the Orange.
With 12:12 to play in the second quarter junior receiver David Tyree (Montclair, NJ) tackled Mike Ronsick, the Kansas State punter who had bobbled the snap. Tyree forced Ronsick to fumble and junior running back Barry Baker (North Babylon, NY) made the recovery at the Wildcats' four-yard line. Two plays later Mungro punched in his second score on a one-yard run. After a blocked point after attempt, SU led 13-3.
Senior cornerback Willie Ford (Falmouth, MA) made an interception on Kansas State's next drive. Ford made the grab on a deep throw over the middle of the field. He returned it 36 yards to the Wildcats' 42 yard-line.
On the first play of the Orangemen's ensuing drive Anderson went to deep to sophomore wide out Johnnie Morant (Parsippany, NJ). Morant made the 41-yard catch, spotting the ball at the Kansas State one-yard line. On the next play Mungro added his third touchdown, just 52 seconds after his second trip to the endzone. Mungro, playing in his final collegiate game, rushed for 112 yards on 20 carries. The point after attempt was blocked and the Orangemen had a 19-3 advantage at the half.
With 3:22 to play in the fourth quarter Anderson and Morant hooked up again. This time the duo connected for a 52-yard touchdown, making the score 26-3. Ford made his second interception with 1:37 to play.
The Orangemen defense held Kansas State to 32 yards rushing and forced four turnovers. The Wildcats converted just four of 18 third down attempts. The SU defense limited Kansas State quarterbacks to completing 35 percent of their passes (14-of-40). Smith led the Syracuse defense with 12 tackles and one sack.
A crowd of 40,028 filled Bank One Ballpark to watch Syracuse's victory. The Orangemen are now 12-8-1 in bowl games. The win against Kansas State evens the series at one game each. The only other time the schools have met was in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl, which the Wildcats won 35-18. Coach Pasqualoni's bowl record is now 6-2.
