Syracuse vs. UConn Game Notes
Syracuse at Connecticut
Rentschler Field
East Hartford, Conn.
October 7, 2005
Syracuse Game Notes
Ryan LaCasse and Tim Lane were named game captains for Friday night’s contest. They joined 2005 team captains Steve Franklin and James Wyche at midfield for the opening coin toss.
Damien Rhodes rushed for 82 yards against the Huskies. He became the 17th player to reach the 2,000-yard mark for his career He now has 2,048 career rushing yards, 16th all-time at SU. Rhodes also caught two passes on Friday. He now ranks fourth all-time in receptions by a running back with 51. Rhodes also moved into sixth place on SU’s career all-purpose yards list. He has 3,435 all-purpose yards for his career.
Perry Patterson completed 10-of-28 passes against the Huskies. He now has 234 completions for his career, the seventh-most in school history. Patterson also moved into ninth all-time in career passing attempts with 419.
Luke Cain made his first appearance of the 2005 season, playing on SU’s kickoff coverage and punt return teams.
James Wyche blocked the extra point on Connecticut’s first scoring drive. It was the first time an SU player blocked an extra point since Tony Jenkins in the 2004 season opener at Purdue.
After Connecticut’s first scoring drive, Curtis Brinkley returned the ensuing kickoff for 35 yards. It was the longest kickoff return of his career.
Tim Washington saw his first action of the season and made his first career reception in the fourth quarter.
Joe Fields made his first appearance of 2005 and rushed for a career-long 22 yards on a bootleg in the first quarter. He finished with a personal-best 31 yards rushing in the game.
Quinton Brown recorded the first rushing attempt of his career on an end around in the first quarter.
The Huskies’ Matt Nuzie hit a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. It was the first 50-yard field goal kicked against the Orange since D.J. Fitzpatrick of Notre Dame booted a 50-yarder against SU in 2003.
Dowayne Davis notched his first career pass breakup in the second quarter and finished with a personal-best 15 tackles on the night.
Tight end Brandon Darlington made his first career catch with a 12-yard grab in the second quarter.
Brendan Carney punted nine times. He ranks fifth in school history in number punts with 157 for his career. He also made his first career tackle in the game.
The Orange snapped Connecticut’s home shutout streak at 233 minutes and 27 seconds, dating back to last season, on a 33-yard touchdown strike from Perry Patterson to Nick Chestnut in the fourth quarter. It was the first points allowed by the Huskies at home this season. Last week, the Orange scored 17 points after halftime, the first second-half points surrendered by Florida State in 2005.
Kelvin Smith tied his career high with 10 tackles versus the Huskies.
The Orange defense held Connecticut to 45 yards passing. It was lowest passing yardage total of the year by an SU opponent.
Tonight’s game marked the 15th time since 1958 the Orange competed against a team coached by a former SU assistant (Randy Edsall is the head coach of Connecticut). The Orange is now 10-5 against squads guided by former SU assistant coaches.
SU’s defense shut down the Connecticut offense on its opening drive of the game, snapping the Huskies’ streak of six consecutive contests (dating back to 2004) in which they came away with points on their first possession.
