Syracuse University
West Virginia
#4/5 WVU Runs To 41-17 Victory Against Orange
10/14/2006 4:30:00 PM | Football
West Virginia 41, Syracuse 17
Syracuse Notes
MORGANTOWN, W.V. -- West Virginia quarterback Pat White scored on runs of 69, 40, 32 and 12 yards, helping the host Mountaineers to a 41-17 victory against Syracuse. With the victory, #5/4 WVU kept the Schwartzwalder Trophy.
Syracuse quarterback Perry Patterson kept the Orange in the contest with a touchdown toss and scoring run. Patterson completed 9-of-21 for 146 yards and the touchdown pass. Freshman running back Delone Carter led the Orange ground game with 58 yards on 13 carries. Freshman Mike Williams had a team-leading three catches for a career-best 99 yards.
Syracuse’s Brendan Carney punted seven times for 275 yards. He became the program’s career leader in punt yardage (10,256), passing Mike Shafer (10,073).
The Orange took the opening kickoff and moved 80 yards in 11 plays. Facing third-and-nine from the West Virginia 47, Patterson evaded the pass rush and found a wide-open Williams near the Mountaineer goal line for the 47-yard touchdown. It was the first time this season West Virginia trailed in a contest. The Syracuse scoring toss was the 22nd career TD pass for Patterson and moved him into sixth on the SU list past R.J. Anderson.
The Mountaineers regrouped and tied the score at seven thanks to White’s 69-yard touchdown run on the ensuing possession. Kicker Pat McAfee added a 19-yard field goal and running back Steve Slaton tacked on a 52-yard touchdown run to put the Mountaineers ahead 17-7.
Syracuse responded to the 17-0 WVU stretch with a nine-play, 60-yard scoring drive, completed by Patterson’s three-yard touchdown run. It was his first rushing score of the campaign and the seventh of his career. Patterson and Williams hooked up on a 30-yard pass play during the drive.The score brought SU to within three, 17-14, before the half.
West Virginia scored touchdowns on its first three drives of the second half. Each came on White runs -- covering 40, 32 and 12 yards. White gained 247 yards on 15 carries, including the four touchdown runs. A 32-yard McAfee field goal extended the lead to 41-14 in the fourth quarter. Patrick Shadle converted a 34-yard field goal to complete the game’s scoring.
Cornerback Nick Chestnut had his first career interception. Cornerback Tanard Jackson and safety Donta Herrod had fumble recoveries for the Orange. Linebacker Luke Cain and nose tackle Nick Santiago forced the two miscues. Safety Joe Fields had a career-high 12 total tackles (five solos-seven assists) to lead both squads. Safety Dowayne Davis and linebacker Kelvin Smith each had nine stops.
