Syracuse University
TOLEDO
SU Downs Rockets, 34-7
9/27/2003 9:47:09 PM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Game Notes
Toledo Game Notes
Syracuse Coaches' Quotes
Syracuse Player Quotes
Toledo Coach and Player Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orangemen ran for more than 300 yards for the second straight week, including 162 yards and two touchdowns by junior running back Walter Reyes, defeating the Toledo Rockets, 34-7, on Saturday, September 27 in front of 36,083 fans at the Carrier Dome. Syracuse won its second straight to improve to 3-1, while the Rockets are now 3-2.
Reyes ran for more 100 yards for the second consecutive game. He extended his streak of games with at least one rushing touchdown to nine. He is now one game short of tying Jim Nance's record of 10 set in 1964. He had 148 yards in the first half, marking the second straight half in which he ran for more than 100 yards. Reyes now has nine career 100-yard games, giving him sole possession of ninth place on SU's all-time list.
Reyes had touchdown runs of 61 and 43 yards. He is now tied with Ernie Davis and Dee Brown for third on the SU career list with 28. He also moved past Joe Morris for fifth place on the Orange's all-time total touchdown list (28).
The SU defense forced the Rockets into four three-and-out possessions and stopped Toledo three times on fourth down. Senior linebacker Rich Scanlon led the Orangemen with 10 tackles. Sophomore linebacker Kellen Pruitt had nine tackles, including a sack, while sophomore safety Anthony Smith registered five stops and an interception. Syracuse held the Rockets to 333 yards of total offense, 255 yards passing and 76 yards rushing. All three totals were season bests for the Orangemen defense.
Senior quarterback #R.J. Anderson# completed 17-of-23 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. Anderson also rushed five times for 24 yards and a score. He has now thrown 121 consecutive passes without being intercepted, the third-longest streak in SU history (Donovan McNabb 133 and 130).
Sophomore running back Damien Rhodes returned to the lineup after missing the UCF game and rushed for 36 yards on 14 carries. He also caught a career-high four passes. The SU running backs combined for nine catches and 49 receiving yards.
The Orangemen scored on their opening possession for the second straight game, driving 67 yards in 11 plays. Junior Collin Barber connected on a 30-yard field goal to give SU a 3-0 lead with 9:25 left in the first quarter. It was Barber's 22nd career field goal, moving him into sole possession of seventh place on the SU all-time list. Reyes ran four times for 24 yards and caught two passes for six yards on the drive. Senior Thump Belton had one rush for a season-long 20 yards.
The SU defense forced the Rockets into a three-and-out on their opening possession, giving the Orange offense another chance. On a third-and-one from the SU 39-yard line, Reyes broke loose for a 61-yard touchdown run to give the Orangemen a 10-0 lead with 6:50 left in the first quarter.
The Rockets drove to the Orangemen's 30-yard line, but the Syracuse defense stiffened, stuffing Toledo on fourth down. Senior defensive tackle Christian Ferrara stopped a screen pass for a loss of three yards to give SU the ball on its own 33-yard line.
Reyes again busted a long run on a short-yardage play to extend SU's lead to 17-0. On fourth-and-one, the junior went 43 yards for his second score of the game.
The two teams traded punts on the next three series. The Orangemen took over first-and-10 on their own 20-yard line with 9:31 left in the second quarter and drove 80 yards for their third touchdown of the game. Anderson hit senior tight end Lenny Cusumano for a two-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal. It was Cusumano's first career touchdown reception. The score capped a 14-play drive that took 6:41, both season longs for SU.
The Orangemen defense forced the Rockets to punt on their first drive of the second half. The SU offense drove deep into Toledo territory, but a fumble on the 12-yard line by receiver Rashard Williams gave the Rockets the ball. The SU defense stopped Toledo without a first down, giving the Orangemen the ball at the Rockets' 48-yard line following a five-yard punt return by freshman Marcus Clayton.
Syracuse drove to the Toledo 19-yard line where Barber converted a 36-yard field goal to give the Orangemen a 27-0 lead with 5:02 left in the third quarter.
The Orangemen defense forced the Rockets into their fourth three-and-out possession of the game, but Syracuse turned the ball over on another fumble, this one by receiver Jared Jones on an end-around. Toledo took over on the SU 48-yard line. The Rockets were able to convert on the SU miscue. Quarterback Greg Gradkowski found Lance Moore for a 35-yard touchdown pass to cut the Orangemen lead to 27-7.
Gradkowski finished the game 31-of-50 for 255 yards. His longest completion of the day was the 35-yard touchdown pass. Trinity Dawson led the Rockets' rushing attack with 52 yards on 14 carries.
Syracuse punted on the ensuing possession, but again the defense stopped the Rockets on fourth down. The Orangemen took over on the SU 44-yard line with 11:21 left in the game, but was forced to punt. The Rockets had a third-and-long from the SU 45-yard line, but Pruitt and Thomas Whitfield combined for the Orangemen's first sack of the season to force a fourth down. Smith picked off the fourth-down pass to snuff the drive, returning his second interception of the season to the Rockets' 44-yard line.
The Orangemen drove inside the Toledo 20-yard line. Jones made a 26-yard reception for a first down, giving him three catches for the game. Jones has now caught at least three passes in each of the last seven games he has played in. Two plays later, Anderson ran an option around the left end for a 14-yard touchdown. It was Anderson's 10th career touchdown run.
Syracuse is off to its first 3-1 start since the 1999 squad began the season 5-1. The Orangemen have a bye week before beginning the BIG EAST portion of the schedule on Saturday, October 11 at Virginia Tech.
