Syracuse University
RHODE ISLAND
SU Defeats Rhode Island, 63-17
9/14/2002 4:27:18 PM | Football
Box Score
Syracuse Game Notes
Rhode Island Game Notes
Coach Pasqualoni Quotes
Syracuse Player Quotes
Rhode Island Coach's Quotes
Rhode Island Player Quotes
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Sophomore running back Walter Reyes (Struthers, Ohio) rushed for a career-high 128 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Orangemen to a 63-17 victory against Rhode Island in front of 43,089 fans at the Carrier Dome on Saturday, September 14. Syracuse and the Rams are both now 1-2 on the season.
Junior quarterback R.J. Anderson (Plainville, Conn.) was also effective through the air, completing 13-of-18 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns in less than three quarters of work. It was Anderson’s second 300-yard passing game of his career (Temple, 2001).
The Orangemen wasted little time getting into the endzone, going 64 yards in seven plays on their first drive of the game. Freshman tailback Damien Rhodes (Manlius, N.Y.) scored the touchdown from 10 yards out. Rhodes finished the game with a career-high 94 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries. Rhodes and Reyes became the first rushing tandem to each rush for multiple touchdowns since Dee Brown and James Mungro each had two versus Temple in 2000. Reyes’ three scoring runs tied him for fifth place on the SU single-game list. He is the first Orangeman since James Mungro versus West Virginia last season to rush for three scores.
The Orangemen put their second touchdown of the quarter on the board when Reyes scored on a 10-yard run. The big play of the drive was a 32-yard completion from Anderson to junior wide receiver Jamel Riddle (Meriden, Conn.).
Riddle and Anderson connected again for an 87-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. It was SU’s longest pass play since Donovan McNabb hooked up with Quinton Spotwood for a 94-yard touchdown versus East Carolina in 1997. It also is tied for the third longest pass play in SU history. Ger Schwedes hit Ernie Davis for an 87-yard touchdown versus Texas in 1959. It was a career long pass and reception for Anderson and Riddle, respectively.
Riddle finished the game with career highs in both catches (five) and yards (176). His 176 yards receiving is tied for 10th on the SU single-game ledger. Shelby Hill had 176 yards versus Cincinnati in 1993.
The Rams responded with a scoring drive of their own capped by a 45-yard Shane Laisle field goal. Jason Ham set up the score with a career-long 52-yard run. The Rams cut the lead to 21-10 on their next possession. Quarterback Jayson Davis scampered in from the four-yard line on a quarterback draw to cap a eight-play, 85-yard drive.
Syracuse went back to the ground on its next possession, a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Rhodes found paydirt for the second time in the game, scoring on a 16-yard run to put SU up 28-10. Rhodes rushed five times for 73 yards on the drive.
Once again, the Rams refused to roll over, coming back with their second touchdown drive of the night. Justin Westley cut the Syracuse lead to 28-17 with a 15-yard scoring run.
The Orangemen struck again with another big-play, scoring their third touchdown of the quarter when Reyes busted loose for a career-high 46 yard touchdown run. The offense kept on coming for Syracuse when Anderson and Riddle connected again on a 29-yard scoring play to put SU ahead, 42-17 at halftime.
Reyes and Rhodes carried the load on SU’s only scoring drive of the third quarter. Rhodes rushed for 10 yards and then made his first career reception, a 38-yard screen pass down to the one-yard line. Reyes made the plunge on the next play for his third rushing touchdown of the game.
SU forced its second turnover of the game when redshirt freshman cornerback Steve Gregory (Staten Island, N.Y.) made his first career interception.
Syracuse scored twice in the fourth quarter. The first touchdown came on a 21-yard fumble return by senior Latroy Oliver (Hartford, Conn.), the first score of his career. SU fiinished the first scoring on a one-yard ruin by junior fullback Darryl Kennedy (Plainfield, N.J.), his first career score.
SU’s 629 yards of total offense ranked fourth on the Orange’s single-game list, passing the 618 yards versus Pittsburgh in 1994. The Orangemen’s 8.6 yards per play tied for fourth on the SU single-game list. The last time was versus Cincinnati in 1998.
The Orangemen have a bye week before their next game at Auburn on September 28.
