Syracuse University
VIRGINIA TECH
Orangemen Win Triple Overtime Thriller, 50-42
11/9/2002 4:18:27 PM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Game Notes
Virginia Tech Game Notes
Coach Pasqualoni Post-Game Quotes
Syracuse Player Post-Game Quotes
Virginia Tech Coach and Player Post-Game Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - A 25-yard run on the first play of Syracuse's third overtime possession by freshman Damien Rhodes gave the Orangemen a 50-42 victory versus #8/7 Virginia Tech in front of a season-best Carrier Dome crowd of 48,239 on Saturday, November 9. Rhodes also scored the two-point conversion in the third overtime. The Orangemen are now 4-6 overall and 2-3 in the BIG EAST, while the Hokies are 8-2 and 3-2 in the league.
Syracuse clinched the victory when senior safety Maurice McClain intercepted a Bryan Randall pass in the endzone on the first play of Virginia Tech's third overtime possession.
The game featured 1,163 yards of total offense, including 907 yards passing. SU senior Troy Nunes went 26-of-40 for 403 yards, all career-highs. His yardage total was the second-highest in Orangemen history and only the second 400-yard game ever at SU. Marvin Graves threw for 425 yards versus Rutgers in 1992. Nunes' 40 attempts ranks third on the SU single-game ledger, while his 26 completions ranks second on the Orangemen single-game list (Marvin Graves, 29 vs. Cincinnati, 1993).
Randall finished 23-of-35 for a school-record 504 yards and five touchdowns.
The game also featured two outstanding individual performances from receivers. Syracuse's David Tyree set career highs with nine catches for 229 yards. His yardage total is the second-highest in SU history (Scott Schwedes, 249 vs. Boston College, 1985), and just the third 200-yard receiving game in Orangemen history (Marvin Harrison, 213 vs. West Virginia, 1995).
Virginia Tech's Ernest Wilford set a school record with 279 yards receiving. Four of his eight catches went for touchdowns.
Syracuse sophomore Walter Reyes rushed for three touchdowns for the second consecutive game. He now holds the Syracuse single-season rushing touchdown record with 15. Reyes finished the game with 118 yards on 21 carries, his third consecutive 100-yard effort. He is now second on the SU all-time sophomore rushing list with 930 yards for the season, passing Floyd Little's total of 828 in 1964.
Rhodes finished with 67 yards on 17 carries and a career-best tying two touchdowns. It is the second time this season that Reyes and Rhodes combined for five rushing touchdowns in a game (Rhode Island).
The Syracuse defense held the Hokies to a season-low 55 rushing yards on 25 carries. Lee Suggs had 65 yards on 19 carries. It was the first time this season that Virginia Tech had less than 100 yards rushing in a game. The Orangemen forced five turnovers on the day, including three interceptions.
The Hokies took a 42-35 lead in the second overtime on a one-yard rush by Randall. The Orangemen responded on their possession to force a third overtime. Nunes found junior tight end Joe Donnelly from six yards out on fourth down. It was Donnelly's first career touchdown reception.
Nunes was intercepted in the endzone on the Orangemen's initial overtime possession. The Hokies ran the ball three straight times to set up a field goal, but Carter Warley's 36-yard attempt missed.
The fourth quarter featured 27 points, a lead change and two ties. SU led, 22-21, entering the fourth period, but the Hokies outscored SU, 14-13, in the final stanza.
Reyes gave the Orangemen a 28-21lead with a six-yard run with 13:38 left. The extra point was no good. Randall and Wilford connected on their third touchdown pass of the day, and 87-yard catch, with 7:40 left in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28-28.
Randall found Wilford on a fade route in the right corner of the endzone from six yards out to give the Hokies a 35-28 lead. It was the fourth touchdown catch of the day for Wilford and the fifth scoring toss for Randall. An 87-yard reception to Keith Willis set up the score.
Rhodes brought the Orangemen within one with a three-yard touchdown run with 4:27 left in the fourth quarter. Mike Shafer's extra point knotted the score at 35-35. A 62-yard completion from Nunes to Tyree set up the play. The duo combined for three plays of 50-or-more yards.
Warley missed the potential game-winning 46-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in regulation. SU took a knee to run out the clock.
Syracuse's offense scored first, putting together a nine-play, 41-yard drive that culminated in a 30-yard field goal by sophomore Collin Barber and a 3-0 lead. Reyes rushed five times for 25 yards on the drive.
The Hokies took a 7-3 lead on the ensuing possession. Randall scrambled out of the pocket and found Suggs for a 15-yard touchdown pass. The Orangemen appeared to have Virginia Tech stopped, but a defensive holding penalty gave the Hokies a first down on the SU 20-yard line.
The Hokies went ahead 14-3 when Randall found Wilford for a 75-yard touchdown on the first play after an SU turnover.
Syracuse scored nine unanswered points in the second quarter to cut the Virginia Tech lead to 14-12 at halftime. The Orangemen forced three turnovers in the half and limited the Hokies ground game to minus-one yard.
The Orangemen finished off an 11-play, 71-yard drive that started at the end of the first quarter with a 26-yard field by Barber.
The Syracuse special teams came up with yet another big play, blocking its second punt of the season. Tyree rejected the kick and redshirt freshman Steve Gregory fell on the ball at the Tech two-yard line. Reyes took a toss around right end on third down for the score. SU's two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 14-12.
The Orangemen defense intercepted its second pass of the game when junior linebacker Rich Scanlon stepped in front of a Hokie receiver for his first career pick. The Orangemen lined up for a 47-yard field goal attempt, but attempted a fake. Nunes was taken down for a loss of 19 yards.
The two teams traded punts to begin the second half. On the Orangemen's second possession of the third quarter, SU drove the ball to Tech 21-yard line. Barber made his third field goal of the game to give the Orangemen a 15-14 advantage with 8:42 left in the third quarter.
Barber's three field goals were a career high. It was the 25th time in SU history that a player made three field goals in a game and the first since Nate Trout versus Boston College in 1999. He took over sole possession of
It didn't take long for the Hokies to reclaim the lead.Randall found Wilford for a 34-yard touchdown pass that capped a three-play, 90-yard drive that took just 35 seconds. Warley's extra point gave Tech a 21-15 lead with 7:55 left in the third quarter.
The SU offense responded with a seven-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. Reyes tied the game with a nine-yard touchdown run, his second score of the game. Barber's extra point gave Syracuse a 22-21 lead with 4:38 left in the third quarter.
The Orangemen are now 2-3 all-time in overtime games and 2-1 in extra sessions at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse leads the all-time series with the Hokies, 9-7. The Orangemen have won six of the last seven meetings in the Carrier Dome.
SU will try and extend its three-game winning streak next Saturday at Boston College. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
