Syracuse Game Notes
SU VS. PITTSBURGH
OCTOBER 5, 2002
SYRACUSE, N.Y. • CARRIER DOME
Junior defensive end Josh Thomas (Orchard Park, NY) was in the starting lineup. It was Thomas' first game since injuring his foot versus North Carolina. Thomas made his first career interception on the Panthers' third play from scrimmage.
Collin Barber's (Lexington, KY) 28-yard field goal on SU's first possession marked the third game in a row that the Orangemen scored on their first drive. It was the second straight game that an opponent turnover on its initial drive has led to a Syracuse field goal.
Redshirt freshman Ryan LaCasse (Stoughton, Mass.) recovered his first career fumble in the first quarter. Senior safety Keeon Walker (Hoboken, N.J.) forced the fumble, his team-leading third of the season. Junior defensive tackle Louis Gachelin (Miami, Fla.) recorded his team-best fourth sack of the season in the first quarter. It was Gachelin's team-leading fifth tackle behind the line of scrimmage this season.
Pittsburgh's 24 first-half points was the most points allowed in a half this season by Syracuse.
Senior quarterback Troy Nunes (Butler, Pa.) was credited with a reception on his screen pass that was batted back into his hands. It is the second consecutive week Nunes has had a reception and the second straight year an SU quarterback has caught one of his own passes versus Pittsburgh (R.J. Anderson).
Nunes' 120 passing yards in the game moved him into fourth place on the Syracuse career passing yardage list. Nunes now has 3,484 yards, passing Bill Hurley (3,398 yards).
The 44-yard kickoff return by freshman Damien Rhodes (Manlius, N.Y.) in the third quarter was a career-long. Rhodes had a 41-yard return versus Auburn last week.
Pittsburgh's Rod Rutherford hit Roosevelt Bynes on a streak pattern for an 82-yard touchdown. It was the first 80-yard-or-longer passing play against the Orangemen defense since Pittsburgh's Matt Cavanaugh hit Gordon Jones for an 80-yard gain in 1975.
Pittsburgh's 48 points is the most ever allowed by the Orangemen in the Carrier Dome. It is the most points scored against Syracuse in a home game since Penn State defeated SU, 49-6, on October 20, 1973.
Jared Jones' (Hillsborough, N.J.) 37-yard reception in the fourth quarter was the longest of his career.
Darryl Kennedy's (Plainfield, N.J.) fourth quarter reception was the first of his career.
Barry Baker's (North Babylon, N.Y.) touchdown run in the fourth quarter was the first touchdown of his career.
Syracuse lost four fumbles in a game for the first time since the 1991 Pittsburgh game. It was the first time SU fumbled five times in a game since 1999 versus Tulane.
