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Syracuse University
Brigham Young
Orangemen Lose at BYU, 42-21
8/30/2002 8:44:27 AM | Football
PROVO, UT - A 21-0 Brigham Young University run over the final 18 minutes of the game led the Cougars to a 42-21 triumph against Syracuse University on Thursday, Aug. 29.
True freshman Damien Rhodes (Manlius, N.Y.) rushed for two touchdowns and led the Orangemen with 82 yards rushing on 14 carries in his first collegiate game. He also returned four kickoffs for 91 yards. Rhodes' rushing performance was the best debut by a Syracuse running back since Floyd Little rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries at Boston College in 1964.
The Cougars took a 7-0 lead when quarterback Bret Engemann hit Andrew Ord on a 6-yard slant for a touchdown at 8:14 in the first quarter.
Syracuse cornerback Will Hunter recovered a muffed punt by BYU's Reno Mahe at the Cougar 17-yard line to set up SU's first score. Jamel Riddle went into the end zone untouched on an end around on the next play to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:43 remaining in the first quarter. Collin Barber converted the extra-point attempt.
BYU took a 14-7 lead after a 13-play, 80-yard drive that ended with Engemann throwing a two-yard touchdown pass to Toby Christensen 14 seconds into the second quarter. The Cougars increased their lead to 21-7 at the 4:53 mark on a one-yard run by Marcus Whalen.
Rhodes scored his first collegiate touchdown on a five-yard run at 1:13 of the second quarter to bring Syracuse within 21-14 at intermission.
It would be Rhodes' four-yard touchdown run at 6:08 of the third quarter that tied the game at 21-21, as the Orangemen struck first in the second half.
Engemann scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown at 2:43 of the third quarter on a three-yard plunge, putting BYU ahead, 27-21, after the extra-point attempt failed.
Hunter led the SU defense with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops. Sophomore free safety O'Neil Scott made five solo tackles and finished the game with 10 tackles. Senior linebacker Clifton Smith, a preseason All-American and candidate for every major defensive award, made seven tackles, including two for a loss.
The Edwards Stadium gathering, a near sellout, was the largest crowd to witness a Syracuse season-opener since 1980.
