Syracuse University
PITTSBURGH
Orangemen Lose to Pittsburgh, 48-24
10/5/2002 12:53:36 PM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Game Notes
Pittsburgh Game Notes
Coach Pasqualoni Postgame Quotes
Syracuse Player Postgame Quotes
Coach Harris Postgame Quotes
Pittsburgh Player Postgame Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. ? Syracuse lost its BIG EAST opener the first time since 1997, 48-24, to Pittsburgh in front of 39,947 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Oct. 5. The Orangemen are now 1-4 overall. Pittsburgh improved to 5-1 and 2-0 in the conference.
The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak and a 12-game unbeaten string for the Orangemen versus the Panthers. It was Pittsburgh's first win in the Carrier Dome since 1982.
Syracuse took a 3-0 lead on a 28-yard field goal by sophomore Collin Barber (Lexington, Ky.) following a Pittsburgh turnover. It was the second straight game, the Orangemen defense created a turnover on the opponents' first drive. Junior defensive end Josh Thomas (Orchard Park, N.Y.), making his first appearance since injuring his foot versus North Carolina, made his second career interception off a pass tipped by senior linebacker Clifton Smith (Freeport, N.Y.).
The Panthers then scored 48 unanswered points, converting three SU turnovers in the second half into scores.
Syracuse stopped the run with its first touchdown when senior quarterback Troy Nunes (Butler, Pa.) hit David Tyree (Montclair, N.J.) on a four-yard fade route in the third quarter. The extra point cut the deficit to 48-10. Walter Reyes (Struthers, Ohio) set up the score with a 51-yard run.
The Orangemen scored two times in the fourth quarter to set the final score. Reyes scored his first touchdown of the game on an 11-yard run. He finished the game with with a team-high 84 yards on 13 carries. Junior Barry Baker (North Babylon, N.Y.) scored his first career touchdown with 3:51 left in the fourth quarter to end the scoring.
Pittsburgh went 83 yards in seven plays for its first touchdown. The drive was capped by a 27-yard scoring pass from Rod Rutherford to Larry Fitzgerald. Rutherford also hooked up with Fitzgerald on a 36-yard completion on the first play of the drive.
The Orangemen fumbled on their next possession. But the SU defense came up with another takeaway when redshirt freshman Ryan LaCasse (Stoughton, Mass.) fell on a fumble forced by senior safety Keeon Walker (Hoboken, N.J.) on the SU 19-yard line. Walker has forced a team-leading three fumbles this season.
Following an SU punt, the Panthers went ahead, 14-3. Brandon Miree went in from six yards out for the score. Miree's run finished a seven-play, 44-yard drive.
The Panthers struck quickly in the second quarter, going 69 yards on their first possession of the quarter. Miree converted a third-and-goal from the one to put Pittsburgh up 21-3. The Panthers scored on their third consecutive possession when David Abdul kicked a 23-yard field goal to put Pittsburgh ahead 24-3. The Panthers had a first-and-goal at the SU four-yard line, but the Orangemen defense stopped Pittsburgh on three straight rushing plays.
On Syracuse's next possession, starting quarterback R.J. Anderson (Plainville, Conn.) was replaced by Nunes after suffering an injury to his right shoulder. Anderson did not return to the game. He finished the game 3-for-10 with 11 yards. Nunes was 3-for-5 for 25 yards on his first drive, but a third-down sack forced the Orangemen to punt. The Panthers ran out the clock to take a 24-3 lead into halftime.
Pittsburgh used two long runs to score on its first possession of the second half. Lousaka Polite scored his second touchdown of the season when he broke through the line and scampered 34 yards up the middle to put Pittsburgh ahead, 31-3. Raymond Kirkley had broken off a 30-yard run on the previous play to set up the score.
The Panther defense got on the board on SU's next possession. Nunes' screen pass attempt was batted back into his hands. He fumbled while attempting to run after the catch and Lewis Moore recovered the ball, taking it in from the two to extend the Pittsburgh lead to 38-3.
Pittsburgh scored again following another Syracuse fumble. David Abdul hit his second field goal of the game, a 19-yarder, to put the Panthers ahead, 41-3. The SU defense held the Pittsburgh on third-and-goal for the second time in the game, forcing the field field goal.
The Orangmen turned the ball over for the third consecutive possession, giving Pittsburgh a first-and-10 at their own 17. Two plays later, Rod Rutherford hit Roosevelt Bynes on a streak pattern for an 82-yard touchdown to put the Panthers up 48-3. It was the first 80-yard-or-longer passing play against the Orangemen defense since Pittsburgh's Matt Cavanaugh hit Godron Jones for an 80-yard gain in 1975.
Nunes finished 11-of-19 for 120 yards. He moved into fourth place on the Syracuse career passing yardage list. He now has 3,484 yards, passing Bill Hurley (3,398 yards).
Rutherford finished the game 10-of-15 for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Lousaka Polite led the Panthers with 58 yards rushing on five carries.
The Orangemen will attempt to snap their two-game losing streak next week at Temple. SU's next home game is October 26 versus Rutgers.
