Syracuse University
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Defeats Syracuse, 34-14
10/25/2003 3:12:54 PM | Football
Box Score
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Syracuse lost to Pittsburgh, 34-14, on Saturday, Oct. 25 in front of 61,421 at Heinz Field. SU junior running back Walter Reyes rushed for 97 yards on 22 carries versus the Panthers. He now has 2,148 yards in his career and is in 13th place on the all-time list. He passed Marty Januskiewicz and Jim Brown with his total against Pittsburgh.
Senior quarterback R.J. Anderson completed seven of 18 passes for 49 yards. He scored SU's only offensive touchdown of the game on a two-yard rush in the second quarter. Anderson threw his first interception since the first quarter of the 2002 West Virginia game, snapping his school-record streak at 178 pass attempts without a pick.
Defensively, strong safety Diamond Ferri led the team with 12 tackles, including one for a loss of five yards, and he had one pass breakup. Ferri also picked up a blocked punt and gained 15 yards for an SU first down.
Reyes was held without a touchdown for the first time in 12 games. Reyes set the SU record for consecutive games with a rushing touchdown by scoring in his 11th straight game last week against Boston College.
Pittsburgh finished the game with 44 rushing yards on 39 attempts. It marks the fourth time in seven games that the Syracuse defense has allowed less than 100 rushing yards.
With 11:14 remaining in the first quarter, Syracuse took a 7-0 lead when sophomore cornerback Steve Gregory returned a fumble seven yards for a touchdown. Panther punter Andy Lee dropped the snap and Gregory picked up the ball and ran it into the endzone for his first career touchdown. It marked the first time an SU player returned a fumble for a touchdown since Quentin Harris scored a 91-yard touchdown on a fumble recovery against Buffalo in 2000.
On the Panthers next drive, Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught three passes for 51 yards, including a three-yard touchdown reception to tie the game, 7-7.
Syracuse regained the lead, 14-7, on its next possession. Reyes rushed six times for 37 yards on a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Anderson capped the drive with a two-yard scamper into the endzone with 2:16 left in the first quarter.
Pittsburgh scored the next two touchdowns and had a 21-14 lead at the half.
In the second half, Pittsburgh added a touchdown and two field goals, making the final score 34-14.
Senior wide receiver Johnnie Morant extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 24 with a two-yard catch in the second quarter.
