Syracuse University
Maine
Second-Half Surge Cages Black Bears
9/26/2009 7:45:55 PM | Football
Syracuse 41, Maine 24
Syracuse Postgame Notes
Syracuse Head Coach Doug Marrone Quotes
Syracuse Student-Athlete Quotes
Maine Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange scored 28 points in the second half to overcome a four-point halftime deficit en route to its 41-24 victory against Maine. Graduate student quarterback Greg Paulus was 21-of-28 for 270 yards and two touchdowns, while senior running back Delone Carter rushed for 72 yards on 19 carries and scored four touchdowns (three rushing and one receiving). Senior wide receiver Mike Williams caught five passes for 80 yards to extend his consecutive games with a reception streak to 24. The Orange improves to 2-2 with its second consecutive victory.
On Syracuse's second possession of the game, Paulus threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Carter to give the Orange the early lead, 7-0, midway through the first quarter.
The Black Bears scored a 35-yard field goal within seconds of the second quarter to cut the Syracuse lead, 7-3. Maine recovered an on-side kick on its next drive, which was followed by quarterback Warren Smith's 56-yard completion to wide receiver Landis Williams to put the Black Bears up, 10-7, less than 15 seconds into the second period.
The Orange responded on its next drive when Paulus marched his team to the 10-yard line. Freshman kicker Ryan Lichtenstein kicked a 28-yarder to tie the game, 10-10, with 10:50 remaining in the half.
On Maine's next possession, junior corner back Kevyn Scott intercepted a pass at the Syracuse 40-yard line to give the ball back to the Orange. It was Scott's second interception this season.
With less than five minutes left before halftime, Maine's Smith threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Williams to give the Black Bears the 17-10 advantage.
Paulus set up another SU field goal attempt with a 21-yard completion to Carter. Lichtenstein connected on a 35-yard field goal to narrow the Black Bears lead to four, 17-13, with just more than a minute left in the half.
On Syracuse's first possession of the second half, Paulus completed 3-of-4 passes, including a 19-yard connection with freshman wide receiver Alec Lemon. Carter gave the Orange a 20-17 lead on a nine-yard rush by Carter to put give SU the 20-17 lead. The eight play, 86-yard scoring drive is SU's longest of the season.
Syracuse kept the momentum going on its next possession. It went 44 yards in a minute and 26 seconds. Paulus connected with sophomore wide receiver Marcus Sales on a 17-yard pass to increase the SU lead, 27-17. It was Sales' first touchdown catch of the season.
Junior linebacker Doug Hogue intercepted a pass and returned it 30 yards to the Maine 10-yard line as time expired in the third. On the first play of the final quarter, Carter rushed five yards to score his third touchdown of the night, further extending the Syracuse lead, 34-17.
The Orange kept control of the game during its next drive, when it went 79 yards on 17 plays. Carter made his way into the end zone for the fourth time when he rushed three yards with 2:23 remaining in the game to give SU the 41-17 lead.
The Black Bears added a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jones with 10 seconds remaining in the game for the final 41-24 score.
The Orange opens BIG EAST play on Saturday, October 3 when it hosts South Florida on Orange Central (Homecoming) Weekend. Kickoff is set for 12:00 p.m. (BIG EAST Network).
