Syracuse Game Notes vs. Illinois
Syracuse University Football Notes (Post-game)
Syracuse at Illinois
Memorial Stadium/Champaign, IL
September 16, 2006
The Orange’s victory ended a school-record 11-game losing streak for SU. It also snapped SU’s seven-game losing skid in road games (includes 2004 Champs Sports Bowl which was played at a neutral site).
The triumph was SU’s first road win under Coach Greg Robinson and also represented the first time Syracuse defeated a Big Ten opponent since it won at Michigan in 1998 (38-28).
The victory snapped the Illini’s three-game winning streak in the series.
Syracuse’s 31 points matched the most scored by the Orange under Robinson (vs. Buffalo, 2005).
Syracuse linebackers coach Steve Russ celebrated his 34th birthday today. He was born on September 16, 1972.
Illinois won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half.
Receiver Taj Smith and tight end Tom Ferron each made the first starts of their SU careers in the contest. Smith scooped up a Perry Patterson fumble and returned it 41 yards for a first-quarter touchdown. It was the first time an Orange player returned a fumble for a score since Steve Gregory did so against Pittsburgh in 2003.
Smith also caught a 65-yard touchdown pass from Patterson in the second quarter. It was the longest completion of the year for the Orange and longest TD reception since Patterson and Damien Rhodes connected on a 68-yard scoring strike against Cincinnati in 2004. It marked the longest pass play for SU since Joe Fields and Rhodes hooked up for a 70-yard connection versus Cincinnati in 2005.
Patterson tossed two touchdown passes in the game to move into sole possession of ninth on SU’s career touchdown passes list. His two TD throws matched his personal best (at Connecticut, 2005).
Smith finished the game with a career-best 106 receiving yards. It is the first time this year an SU receiver has registered at least 100 yards receiving and the first time since an SU receiver has gone over the 100-yard mark since Rice Moss caught 116 yards worth of passes at Louisville in the 2005 season finale.
Ferron caught his first career touchdown pass in the third quarter (16 yards). He finished the game with two receptions for a career-high 33 yards.
Freshman tailback Delone Carter rushed for a personal-best 63 yards on a career-high 19 carries against the Illini
Tailback Curtis Brinkley ran for a personal-best 69 yards in the contest on 18 rushing attempts.
Donte Davis made his first career appearance for the Orange in the game.
Walk-on Max Meisel returned the longest punt of his career in the fourth quarter (16 yards).
Senior linebacker Jerry Mackey returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown on the second play after intermission. It was the first career TD for Mackey and first defensive touchdown for the Orange since Diamond Ferri returned an interception 44 yards for a score against Boston College in 2004.
Jerry became the first Mackey since his great uncle John Mackey in 1962 to score a touchdown for the Orange. John Mackey returned a punt for a TD on Nov. 17, 1962 versus George Washington.
Defensive end Jameel McClain caused the fumble. It was his first career forced fumble.
The SU defense surrendered a 76-touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. It was the longest TD toss against the Orange since the 2004 Champs Sports Bowl when Georgia Tech’s Reggie Ball hooked up with Nate Curry for an 80-yard score.
Defensive tackle Nick Santiago recorded the first sack of his career on the second-to-last play of the game.
