Syracuse Postgame Notes
Syracuse vs. Northwestern
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Syracuse, N.Y./Carrier Dome
The Orange’s 37-34 victory was the first head coaching win for first-year SU coach Doug Marrone.
The victory was the Orange’s first against a Big Ten opponent since it won at Illinois (31-21) on Sept. 16, 2006 and the team’s first home victory against a member of the Big Ten since it beat Minnesota (27-17) on Sept. 23, 1995.
Wide receiver Lavar Lobdell made his first start of the year as the Orange started the game with a three-receiver set … Defensively, Jared Kimmel made his first start of the year at right defensive end.
Running back Delone Carter gained 84 yards on 18 carries and scored a touchdown against the Wildcats to become the 39th Syracuse back to gain 1,000 yards … For his career, Carter has 1,071 yards on 237 career carries.
Wide receiver Mike Williams had 11 receptions Saturday night for a career-best 209 yards and two touchdowns … His 11 receptions is tied with Shelby Hill (vs. Cincinnati, 1993) and Kevin Johnson (at West Virginia, 1998) for second on SU’s single-game receptions record list … His 209 yards is fourth on the school’s single-game record list … Williams now lists fourth on SU’s career receptions chart (107) and he is the eighth Orange receiver to catch 100 passes in his career … Williams also moved into sixth on the school’s all-time receiving yards record list (1,665 yards) … It was the first 200-yard receiving game by an Orange player since Nov. 9, 2002 when David Tyree recorded 229 yards against Virginia Tech … Williams also extended his consecutive games with a catch streak to 23 … It’s the fourth-longest streak In school history … Williams’66-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was a career long … With the two TD receptions, Williams passed Quinton Spotwood and Scott Schwedes and is now tied with Tommy Kane for third on SU’s career receiving touchdowns list with 17.
Kicker Ryan Lichtenstein booted a career-long 43-yard field goal to cap the Orange’s first offensive possession … Lichtenstein also converted a 37-yard try in the third quarter and a 41-yarder as time expired to provide the winning margin … His game-winning field goal marked the first time since Jon Biskup booted a 24-yarder against East Carolina in 1989 with four seconds remaining that an SU placekicker hit a game-winner with less than a minute to play.
Defensive back Nico Scott recovered the first fumble of his career after Northwestern quarterback Mike Kafka was sacked and lost the ball on the Wildcats’ first play from scrimmage.
Quarterback Greg Paulus scored his first rushing touchdown at the 9:33 mark of the first quarter on career-long 10-yard rush to give the Orange a 10-0 … It was the first rushing touchdown by a Syracuse quarterback since October 14, 2006 (Perry Patterson at No. 5 West Virginia) … Paulus’ 66-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter was a career long and his 346 passing yards, 24 completions, 35 attempts and two touchdowns were all personal bests … It was the first 300-yard passing day for an Orange quarterback since Andrew Robinson threw for 419 yards against Cincinnati on Nov. 24, 2007.
Syracuse’s 80-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter was its longest scoring drive of the year.
Syracuse’s 17 first-quarter points were the most the Orange has scored in a quarter since it recorded 17 in the fourth quarter against Miami (Ohio) on Sept. 23, 2006 … The Orange’s 24 first-half points were its most since it tallied 24 in the opening half of a 31-0 home victory against Buffalo on Sept. 10, 2005.
Linebacker Derrell Smith recorded a personal-best two sacks against the Wildcats, both of which resulted in fumbles … Smith is the first SU player to force multiple fumbles in a game since Terrell Lemon forced three versus Wyoming on Sept. 30, 2006 … Smith recorded 10 total tackles in the contest.
Defensive back Shamarko Thomas had a career-high seven tackles (all solo) against Northwestern.
Linebacker Doug Hogue finished with 11 total tackles, a new career high.
Nose tackle Arthur Jones recorded half a tackle for loss to tie Antwuane Ponds for fifth on SU’s career tackles for loss record list (33.0).
Safety Max Suter posted a career-high 10 tackles and intercepted his first career pass to set up SU’s game-winning field goal.
