Walter Reyes ran for his 40th career touchdown, a six-yard run to put SU ahead.
Orange Heads to Final Quarter with 10-0 Lead
9/17/2004 10:04:40 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Neither team scored in the third quarter and Syracuse leads Cincinnati 10-0 at the Carrier Dome heading into the final stanza.
Third Quarter
After three-and-outs by both offenses to start the half, Cincinnati drove into SU territory with a 42-yard completion from Giudugli to tight end Brent Celek. The Orange defense stiffened as junior defensive end James Wyche registered his second sack of the game to force a Bearcat punt.
On SU’s next play, Walter Reyes fumbled and Dominic Ross recovered and retuned the ball to the Syracuse five-yard line. The defense stepped up on the very next play with its fourth takeaway of the game. Tommie Harris recovered a fumble by Giudugli on the six-yard line. It was his first career fumble recovery.
The Bearcats’ defense stopped SU with its second takeaway of the game. Doug Monaghan intercepted Perry Patterson for the second time in the game and returned the ball to the SU 45-yard line.
The Syracuse defense stopped the Bearcats on a third-down play at the 10-yard line. Cincinnati lined up for the field goal attempt, but the holder took the snap and ran up the middle for a first down. The Bearcats had the ball second-and-goal from the three-yard line when the third-quarter clock expired.
Damien Rhodes leads SU with 84 yards rushing through three quarters. Reyes is a close second with 81 yards. Patterson finished the third quarter 8-for-13 for 81 yards and two interceptions.
Second Quarter
Walter Reyes’ six-yard touchdown run with 5:28 left in the second quarter put the Orange on the board. Collin Barber’s extra point gave Syracuse a 7-0 lead.
Reyes’ second rushing touchdown of the season capped a seven-play, 59-yard drive. Reyes accounted for 34 of the yards on the ground. Perry Patterson and Andre Fontenette connected for a key 17-yard reception on a third-down play that gave the Orange a first and goal.
The touchdown was Reyes’ 40th career rushing score. He is the first player in school history to find the endzone 40 times on the ground.
On Cincinnati’s ensuing possession, the Syracuse defense came up with its third interception of the day when senior safety Diamond Ferri intercepted a ball tipped by Kelvin Smith and returned it all the way back to the Bearcats’ 25-yard line.
Barber converted the turnover into three points, hitting a 37-yard field goal to give the Orange a 10-0 lead with 1:08 left in the half.
The Cincinnati special teams kept the Orange off the board with 13:11 left in the second quarter when Adam Roberts blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt. The Bearcats recovered and took possession at their own 39-yard line.
The Syracuse defense intercepted its second pass of the game when Anthony Smith broke in front of a Bearcats’ receiver for his first interception. Smith returned the ball to the Cincinnati 37-yard line. A 15-yard facemask penalty gave the Orange a first down at the 22-yard line.
Cincinnati forced the Orange offense back to the 29-yard line, forcing a 47-yard field goal attempt. Barber’s kick was short and the Bearcats took over at their own 30-yard line.
Reyes finished the first half with 59 yards on 12 carries, while Damien Rhodes contributed 60 yards on four rushes. Rhodes also two passes for 18 yards.
Patterson led the SU quarterbacks, going 5-for-8 for 53 yards and an interception. Joe Fields was 1-for-2 for five yards.
The Syracuse defense held Cincinnati quarterback Gino Giudugli to 28 yards passing. Giudugli was 4-for-12 with three interceptions in the first half.
First Quarter
Cincinnati looked like it would strike first driving 48 yards to the Syracuse 18-yardline. The Syracuse defense did allow the Bearcats to reach the endzone, however, as sophomore cornerback Tanard Jackson stepped in front of Gino Guidugli’s pass at the goal line for his second interception in as many weeks.
The Orange took possession at its own five-yard line. Junior running back Damien Rhodes took the first play around the right end for a 52-yard pickup, the longest run of his career. SU moved the ball to the Cincinnati 17-yard line, but Perry Patterson’s pass attempt was tipped and intercepted by Doug Monaghan and returned to the Bearcats’ five-yard line.
Along with Rhodes’ 52-yard run, senior running back Walter Reyes gained 22 yards on seven carries in the opening quarter. Quarterback Joe Fields went 1-for-2 with a five-yard completion to Landel Bembo, while Patterson was 1-for-2 with a 14-yard hook up with Joe Kowalewsksi. Fields also had a 14-yard run in the opening stanza.
This will be the fifth meeting between SU and Cincinnati. The Orange leads the all-time series 3-1. The Bearcats won the most recent meeting, 12-10, at Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium in 2000.
ORANGE ON THE RADIO
The SU Radio Network broadcast of the SU/Cincinnati game will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday. The entire broadcast can be listened to via suathletics.com.
The pre-game show will be LIVE at the Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield Football Fun Zone located in the Quad. The pre-game show will include an ‘Ask Coach Mac’ segment, a Cincinnati scouting report and former SU football player Duane Kinnon.
Stop by the Quad to watch, listen and participate with Coach Mac and the Voice of the Orange, Matt Park.
FAN FRIENDZY
Orange Friendzy will be held in the Quad starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Snacks and beverages will be available (while supplies last). Stop in to mingle, sign up for a chance to win a prize and pick up our giveaways (while supplies last).
For information on all of our Orange Friendzy football events, home and away, please visit our web site at http://alumni.syr.edu/sports.html.
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