Orange Upsets #20/19 WVU, 19-14
10/23/2010 3:10:33 PM | Football
Syracuse 19, West Virginia 14 (.pdf)
Syracuse Game Notes
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MORGANTOWN, WV -- Three interceptions and a stellar second-half effort by the Syracuse defense led the Orange (5-2, 2-1) past #20/19 West Virginia (5-2, 1-1), 19-14, on Saturday.
The victory ended a streak of eight consecutive losses to the Mountaineers for the Orange. Syracuse regained the Schwartzwalder Trophy, named for the former West Virginia player and Syracuse head coach.
It was a game of two completely different halves. The first two periods featured 33 points while both teams were scoreless after the intermission.
The contest ended in dramatic fashion. The Mountaineers took possession with 6:35 left in the game and embarked on a methodical drive that featured two third-down conversions and a fourth-down conversion. West Virginia advanced to the Syracuse 20, at which point the Orange defenders dug in. On a second-and-10, Shamarko Thomas and Doug Hogue combined to sack WVU quarterback Geno Smith for a 12-yard loss. Following an incomplete pass by Smith, Thomas and Anthony Perkins teamed up on a four-yard quarterback sack to secure the triumph.
Hogue had two interceptions in the first half and both led to Syracuse field goals.
The Orange forced a turnover on West Virginia's first possession. Hogue intercepted a Mountaineer pass deep in West Virginia territory. Syracuse benefitted from the miscue when Ross Krautman converted a 28-yard field goal to put the Orange up 3-0.
The Mountaineers bounced right back, fashioning a nine-play, 71-yard drive on a six-yard touchdown toss from Geno Smith to Tavon Austin. Smith was 5-of-7 for 69 yards on the march.
Syracuse quickly countered as Ryan Nassib found Van Chew in the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown pass, capping a five-play, 62-yard scoring drive which put the Orange back on top, 10-7.
The offensive battle continued and WVU regained the lead, 14-10, as Ryan Clarke found the end zone on a one-yard rush.
An SU fumble on the ensuing kickoff return gave West Virginia the ball back, but Phillip Thomas halted the driving Mountaineers with his first interception of the season, a pick-off on the goal line. A possession that featured a 46-yard run by Delone Carter resulted in a second three-pointer from Krautman, this time a 19-yarder. The first-year kicker nailed his third try, a 33-yarder, to give the Orange a 16-14 lead.
With time running down in the second quarter, Hogue picked off a second Smith pass and this time returned it 49 yards to the West Virginia 12. Krautman's 22-yard field goal with 36 seconds before the break had S.U. ahead, 19-14.
The scoring fireworks quieted in the third period as both clubs exchanged punts throughout the second half. Syracuse's Rob Long excelled, punting six times for a 51.7 average and placing two of the boots inside the West Virginia 20-yard line. Long moved into second on the club's all-time punting yards list (10,186 yards).
Syracuse churned out 183 yards on the ground. Delone Carter had 75 yards on nine carries before leaving the game with an injury. Carter moved past Damien Rhodes into eighth in career rushing yards at Syracuse (2,508). Antwon Bailey stepped in and ran for 94 yards on 19 attempts. Bailey's total represented a season high.
Hogue led the Orange with 10 total tackles which included 1.5 tackles for 12 yards in losses. He had half a quarterback sack, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Chandler Jones had eight tackles and two quarterback sacks.
Phillip Thomas and Derrell Smith each had eight total tackles.
Krautman's four field goals were a personal best and marked the first time since 1999 that an SU kicker had four three-pointers in a game. That time it was Nate Trout against Tulane on October 2, 1999.
Syracuse improved its record to 5-2 overall, giving the program five victories for the first time since the 2004 squad was 6-6 overall. It was the Orange's first win against a ranked opponent since winning at #18/19 Louisville in 2007, 38-35.
Syracuse travels to take on Cincinnati next Saturday in another BIG EAST Conference matchup.
