Finding Balance

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In its 40-10 conference victory against Connecticut this past Friday night, the Syracuse football team (3-4, 2-1 BIG EAST) felt balanced. Not only was the running and pass game completely balanced (each totaled 251 yards), all three phases of the team played well.

"The defense was playing great," said senior wide receiver Alec Lemon. "The special teams played great. That's one of the things that's Coach Marrone is talking about. He knows that to win a game, you need a complete team. We felt like this past week, we showed that we are a complete team in all three phases. We all helped each other out. The defense shut them out the second half, it was great. On offense, we had a great second half as well. Special teams came up big for us."

While all three phases of the team worked well, the offense also knew it had to work together to break through the UConn defense. The Orange recorded 502 total yards against Connecticut. It was the third time this season that SU topped 500 yards of total offense this season.

"I know the first couple of drives, we were running the ball great," Lemon said. "That brought the corners and the safeties up. They were worried about the run. That opened up a lot for the passing game with play action and Marcus Sales and Jarrod West getting open down field. We really complement each other all year. If the pass game is working, than the run game is going to be open. That's why we have to go back as a balanced offense."

Junior running back Jerome Smith accounted for 133 yards of the running game against the Huskies. His 19 carries for 133 yards was a career-high and was the first 100-yard rushing performance by an SU back this season.

"In the first drive, I felt like he had 70 yards," Lemons said. "It was crazy. It was fun to see him break out. I knew he was capable of doing it. I was glad he got to do it in a prime time game on a Friday night. It was exciting. I was happy I could help him out with the pass game that way they couldn't key in on just the run or the pass game. They had to look out for both of us."

Lemon also had an impressive performance against the Huskies, catching eight passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. He also had a career-long reception of 67-yards in the third quarter. Lemon has a knack for recording notable performances against Connecticut. In four career games against the Huskies, Lemon has 27 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns. Three of his six career 100-yard receiving games are against Connecticut (2009, 2011, 2012).

The win on Friday night was also the first win against UConn during Lemon and his fellow senior's careers.

"It was nice having a good game to help my team win," Lemon said. "I had never beaten UConn since I have been here and that was some of my focus going into the game before. All of our seniors have never beaten UConn and we wanted to get that win off of our bucket list. We came out victorious."

The game against Connecticut marked the start of the second half of the season for the Orange. SU will continue to work towards its goals of winning the conference as it continues BIG EAST play at South Florida on Saturday, Oct. 27th (7 p.m.; TWCS/ESPN3).

"Every game that we have had, we have to put in the past whether it was a win or a loss," Lemon said. "We just have to focus on the next one and know what we have to do to win the game. We are capable of winning all of these games. We just need to come out there and play the way we know how to play."

The Orange has back-to-back road games at South Florida (Oct. 27) followed by the game at Cincinnati (Nov. 3) before returning to the Carrier Dome for a Homecoming contest against Louisville on November 10. Tickets are available online, in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B), or by calling 1-888-DOMETIX.

"We have to go down there and focus and execute our game plan," Lemon said. "I know the coaches have a great game plan for us. We have to execute to the way that we are capable of doing. Hopefully it will be a fight and we will come out on top."

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