Syracuse University
Minnesota
Marrone Era Opens in Front of 48,617
9/5/2009 5:01:27 PM | Football
Minnesota 23, Syracuse 20 OT
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Syracuse Postgame Notes
Head Coach Doug Marrone Quotes
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Minnesota Postgame Notes
Minnesota Postgame Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange lost 23-20 in overtime to the Minnesota Gophers in front of 48,614 fans in its season-opener and the first game of head coach Doug Marrone's era. The Carrier Dome crowd was the fourth-largest opening day crowd in history. Hometown quarterback Greg Paulus was 19-for-31 for 167 yards and one touchdown in his Orange debut.
Minnesota capitalized on a Syracuse turnover early in the first quarter, taking a 7-0 lead on a Duane Bennett 16-yard touchdown 19 seconds into the contest.
Syracuse responded when sophomore running back Mike Jones returned a kickoff 79 yards to Minnesota's 16-yard line. Freshman kicker Ryan Lichtenstein hit his first career field-goal attempt, scoring on a 23-yard kick at the 13:01 mark, making the score, 7-3.
Minnesota sophomore Troy Stoudermire gave the Gophers a 14-3 lead with 11:48 remaining in the first quarter on a seven-yard touchdown reception from Adam Weber.
With 32 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Paulus threw for his first career touchdown, a 29-yard strike to senior wide receiver Mike Williams to bring the Orange within four, 14-10. Williams' 10 consecutive games with a touchdown reception is the longest active streak in the FBS Division and is a Syracuse record.
A second Lichtenstein field goal, this one from 42 yards, brought Syracuse to within one, 14-13, midway through the second quarter.
The Orange took a 20-14 lead with 1:39 remaining in the first half when After senior Delone Carter soared over the Gopher defense into the endzone for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, Minnesota cut the lead to three, 20-17, with a 26-yard field by Eric Ellestad midway through the third quarter. Neither team scored until Minnesota tied the game at 20 with 57 seconds remaining in the game. Ellestad connected on a 26-yard field goal to tie the game.
During its first overtime posession, Syracuse gained 20 yards before a Paulus interception turned it over to Minnesota. The Gophers ran three plays and then Ellestad hit a 35-yard field goal for the 23-20 victory.
