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Syracuse University
CENTRAL FLORIDA (ESPN Reg.)
Reyes Runs SU to Victory
9/20/2003 4:35:52 PM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Game Notes
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior running back Walter Reyes rushed for a Carrier Dome record 241 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries to lead the Orangemen to a 38-14 victory versus the University of Central Florida in front of 35,103 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, September 20. SU improved to 2-1, while the Knights stand at 1-2.
Reyes' 241 yards are the second-most ever at SU. Joe Morris holds the record with 252 yards versus Kansas in 1979. It was the first 200-yard game by an SU running back since Dee Brown versus Rutgers in 2000. Brown's 239 yards versus the Scarlet Knights was the previous Carrer Dome mark. His four touchdowns marked the first time an SU player rushed for four scores in one game since current SU running backs coach David Walker had four versus Pittsburgh in 1991.
Reyes' 25-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was his eighth consecutive game with a rushing touchdown, the second-longest streak in SU history. His fourth touchdown moved him past Joe Morris for fifth place on the SU all-time rushing touchdown list with 26. He passed Jim Brown for sixth place on the total touchdown list with 26.
Reyes has now had five games with at least three rushing touchdowns. He is tied with Floyd Little for the most in school history.
Reyes crossed the 100-yard mark for the game with a 32-yard run in the third quarter. It was Reyes' eighth career 100-yard game, tying him with Bill Hurley for seventh on the SU all-time list.
The Syracuse defense intercepted UCF quarterback Ryan Schneider three times. It was the first time SU forced three interceptions since the 2002 Virginia Tech game. The Orange forced five turnovers overall that led to 14 points. It was the most takeaways for SU since they had five versus the Hokies.
Four Orangemen reached double-digits in tackles, led by safety Diamond Ferri and linebacker Rich Scanlon with 13 stops each. It was a career best for Ferri and Scanlon's third consecutive double-digit game. Safety Anthony Smith recorded 12 tackles and a fumble recovery. Cornerback Steve Gregory made 10 tackles and had an interception. Linebacker Kelvin Smith and safety Troy Swittenburg each made their first career interceptions.
SU quarterback #R.J. Anderson# was 13-for-20 for 133 yards, including a 4-for-4, 57-yard effort in the second half. The Orangemen rushed for 318 yards, including 202 in the second half. It was SU's first 300-yard rushing contest since the 2001 Boston College game.
Schneider was 33-of-48 for 284 yards, three interceptions and a touchdown. He became the 25th NCAA Division I quarterback to have 10,000 career passing yards (10,011). The Orangemen outgained UCF, 451-376, including a 318-92 advantage on the ground.
The Orangemen went three-and-out on their opening possession, but Darryl Kennedy recovered a fumble by UCF punt returner Tavaris Capers at the UCF 42-yard line. A third-down pass interference penalty kept the drive alive and Reyes recorded his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a 25-yard touchdown run.
The Orangemen stopped the Knights on their first possession with Christian Ferrara making the tackle on a third-down draw play. Syracuse marched down the field for its second touchdown on the ensuing possession. Reyes plunged into the end zone from one-yard out to cap an 11-play, 82-yard drive. Johnnie Morant had one reception on the drive, extending his streak of games with at least one catch to 20. He finished with four catches for 40 yards.
The Syracuse defense held again, forcing the Knights into their second turnover of the game. Scanlon hurried Schneider into throwing an interception to Gregory. The Orangemen could not convert, and the Knights blocked Brendan Carney's punt to take over at midfield. It was the first SU punt blocked since the Temple game of 2000. The SU defense held firm again, forcing the Knights to punt.
Neither the Orange or UCF could muster much offense in the second quarter with each team trading punts. The Knights got the first break of the second quarter when Tavaris Capers returned a Syracuse punt 35 yards to the Orangemen's 31-yard line.
The Orangemen defense came through again with their back to the wall. After a penalty gave the Knights a first down inside the SU 20-yard line, Kelvin Smith picked off Schneider to give SU the ball first-and-10 on its 10-yard line.
Following an SU punt, UCF drove to the Syracuse 14-yard line, but the Orange defense stiffened. The Knights lined up for a 31-yard field goal attempt, but Al Peterson rushed for 11 yards on a fake. SU held on first and second downs, but on third-and-goal from inside the one, Schneider hit running back Dee Brown for a touchdown. The extra point cut the Orangemen's lead to 14-7.
The Golden Knights took the second-half kickoff and drove for the game-tying score. Alex Haynes finished the 10-play, 83-yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run. Matt Prater's extra point tied the game at 14-14 with 11:04 left in the third quarter. Schneider completed 4-of-5 passes for 63 yards on the drive.
The Orangemen started their next drive at their own six-yard line and marched 94 yards to to score the first of their 24 unanswered points. It was SU's longest drive of the season. Reyes did most of the damage, rushing six times for 53 yards, including a three-yard touchdown run. He also caught one ball for 27 yards, a career long. Collin Barber's third extra point of the game gave Syracuse a 21-14 advantage with 6:02 left in the quarter. It was Barber's 63rd career PAT, the seventh-most in Orange history.
On the ensuing possession, the Knights took the ball to the Syracuse 32-yard line where they faced fourth-and-two. UCF attempted a trick play with wide receiver Brandon Marshall throwing a pass into the endzone, but Gregory knocked the ball away to give the Orangemen a first down.
The Orange offense again embarked on a long scoring drive, going 59 yards in 12 plays. Barber connected on a 26-yard field goal to five SU a 24-14 lead with 12:30 left in the fourth quarter. Reyes rushed six times for 31 yards on the drive.
The Syracuse defense intercepted its third pass of the day on the Knights' next possession. Swittneburg stepped in front of Schneider's third-down pass and returned it 32 yards to the UCF one-yard line. Two plays later, Anderson scored on a quarterback sneak. Barber's PAT gave the Orange a 31-14 advantage with 10:44 left in the game.
Reyes put an exclamation point on his day with a 58-yard touchdown run with 6:01 left in the game. The run put him over 200 yards rushing for the day.
The Orangemen play the final game of a three-game homestand on Saturday, September 27 when they host Toledo.
