Syracuse Post-Game Notes
Allstate Insurance Company donated $1,000 for every SU field goal to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund. In addition, Allstate donated to SU’s general scholarship fund for each field goal ($300 per) and extra point ($100 per) in today’s game. Allstate has raised more than $60,000 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund and more than $25,000 for participating schools' general scholarship funds. The Orange raised $1,600 on one field goal and three PAT’s.
The Orange ran onto the field with blue jerseys and white pants with orange helmets for the first time since 1980. SU wore the uniform combination in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Carrier Dome. More than 23.5 million people have passed through the revolving doors of the Carrier Dome for more than 1,740 events. The first event to ever take place in the Carrier Dome was an SU football victory against Miami (OH), 36-24, in front of 50,564 fans, which still remains the largest crowd for a football game in the Dome.
Kader Drame and Quinn Ojinnaka were named game captains for today’s game joining captains James Wyche and Steve Franklin for the opening coin toss.
Breyone Evans made his first start of 2005, fourth start of his career. He started in three games in 2004.
Perry Patterson ran for his first rushing touchdown of the season putting the Orange ahead, 7-0, in the first quarter on a nine-yard scoring run. He had a career-best two rushing touchdowns on the day.
Kader Drame broke up his third pass of the season, matching a career single-season high.
Jamar Atkinson recorded his first career assisted tackle on a Virginia kick return in the first half.
Virginia’s Marques Hagans recorded the longest run of the season given up by the Orange defense, running for 38 yards on a third down and six play. The previous long by an opponent this season was by West Virginia’s Adam Bednarik who gained 27 yards on a rushing play in the season opener.
The Orange defense allowed its first rushing touchdown of the season when Virginia’s Cedric Peerman scored on a one-yard run.
Curtis Brinkley had a season-long kick return of 25 yards. Kareem Jones also recorded the longest kick return of his career gaining 35 yards.
Kareem Jones caught a career long eight-yard pass from Perry Patterson.
Perry Patterson moved up to ninth on the SU all-time pass completions list on an eight-yard pass completion to Kareem Jones. Patterson had 17 pass completions on the day giving him 210 for his career. In addition, Patterson cracked the top 10 for career passing yards, finishing the game with 172 yards giving him 2,247 for his career. His 366 attempts puts him 10th career pass attempts.
Ryan LaCasse intercepted his first career pass after Tanard Jackson deflected a pass thrown by Marques Hagans. The pick came with 13:41 remaining in the second quarter.
Steve Gregory hauled in his first interception of the year with 11:33 to play in the second quarter. It was his first pass defended of the year, moving him into a tie for fourth all-time with Willie Ford with 36 passes defended. It was his fifth career interception.
Dowayne Davis intercepted his first career pass and returned it 37 yards.
Brendan Carney moved in to ninth place all-time on the SU career punts list with his seven punts on the day. He now has 128 punts in his career. He also moved into sixth all-time in punting yardage with 260 punting yards on the day, giving him 5,763 for his career.
Tommy Harris had a career-high five solo tackles, surpassing his previous best of three. Harris had seven total tackles on the day, a career best.
SU fans donated $5,468 to the United Way of Central New York. The donations were accepted as a part of the Dollar Days promotion at the Carrier Dome. Student-athletes from the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams, men’s and women’s rowing and men’s and women’s track and field teams all helped collect donations. The women’s rowing team raised the highest amount.
Joe Kowalewski set a career-high with seven catches and surpassed 300-yards receiving for his career on a 31-yard touchdown reception from Perry Patterson. Kowalewski had a career-best 96 receiving yards for the game.
Virginia’s Michael Johnson had a 70-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The last time an opponent had a run of 70 yards was in 2003 when Bryan Randall of Virginia Tech had a 75-yard touchdown run.
James Wyche moved into sixth all-time in career tackles by a down lineman at SU. He had five tackles on the day, giving him 160 for his career.
Alex Shor finished the game with two catches for 16 yards, both career highs.
For the second time this season more than 40,000 people packed the Carrier Dome. The total attendance today was 40,027.
Paul Chiara recorded his first-ever solo tackle.
Tim Lane set a career-high in receptions with four.
John Barker made his first career field goal, connecting on a 27-yard attempt to tie the game with 6:25 left to play.
