Syracuse University
South Florida
Williams Extends Streak Against USF
10/3/2009 12:58:12 PM | Football
USF 34, Syracuse 20
Syracuse Postgame Notes
Head Coach Doug Marrone Press Conference Transcript
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
South Florida Postgame Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior wide receiver Mike Williams had a career-high 13 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns in Syracuse's 34-20 loss to the South Florida Bulls in front of 40,147 fans in the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon. SU's (2-3 overall, 0-1 BIG EAST) 20 points was the most scored against USF (5-0, 1-0) in the four meetings between the two teams, dating back to 2005.
Syracuse senior nose tackle Arthur Jones recovered fumbles on USF's first two drives on the first play from scrimmage each time. The Orange, however, lost the ball on its own turnovers in both ensuing drives. On USF's third offensive drive, junior running back Mike Ford scored a touchdown on a 26 yard run to give the Bulls the early 7-0 lead.
On Syracuse's next possession, freshman kicker Ryan Lichtenstein kicked a 40-yard field goal to put the Orange on the board, 7-3. Lichtenstein added a second field goal on the first possession of the second quarter to bring the Orange within one, 7-6.
USF extended its lead, 14-6, when redshirt freshman quarterback B.J. Daniels completed a 33-yard pass to junior wide receiver Carlton Mitchell with 6:06 left in the half.
Near the end of the first half, Orange senior linebacker Derrell Smith forced a fumble at the USF 11-yard line, which was recovered by junior strong safety Max Suter, to give Orange the ball with 1:36 remaining. Graduate student quarterback Greg Paulus threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Williams, making the score 14-13 at the break.
USF scored on its first possession of the second half when Daniels completed an 85-yard pass to Mitchell to give the Bulls the 21-13 advantage. With just more than four minutes left in the quarter, Ford found the end zone a second time to extend the South Florida lead, 27-13.
Jason Pierre-Paul made an interception and returned it 18 yards to give USF the 34-13 lead with just under three minutes left in the quarter.
Paulus connected with Williams on a 29-yard pass for his second touchdown of the day to make the final score 34-20. Paulus was 25-of-46 for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Syracuse will host West Virginia on Saturday, October 10 at 12:00 p.m. (BIG EAST Network). Tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOME-TIX).
