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Sunday, September 4
Syracuse, NY
1:30 p.m.
Syracuse University
7
vs
15
WEST VIRGINIA
Orange Loses Season-Opener, 15-7, to West Virginia
9/4/2005 6:41:30 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange football team lost to BIG EAST rival West Virginia, 15-7, in the season-opener for both teams on Sunday, September 4. A crowd of 45,418 gathered to watch the beginning of head coach Greg Robinson’s era. It was the largest crowd to see an SU home opener since 1999.
The Orange scored the first points of the game when senior Damien Rhodes scored on a five-yard touchdown run. A 20-yard punt return by redshirt freshman J.J. Bedle set up the SU scoring drive. Rhodes finished the game with 46 yards rushing on 16 carries and a career-best seven receptions for 21 yards.
After the Orange defense forced a WVU punt, the Mountaineers tied the game when Eric Wicks intercepted Orange quarterback Perry Patterson’s pass on the first play of the drive and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown with 12:24 remaining in the second quarter.
West Virginia took a 10-7 lead on a 33-yard field goal by Pat McAfee with 5:53 left in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter the Mountaineers added a safety with 8:02 left in the game to take a five point lead, 12-7, and then finished the scoring with a 26-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in the contest.
SU’s defense forced five West Virginia turnovers, including four fumbles. In the first quarter senior free safety Anthony Smith forced a fumble, which was recovered by junior Tanard Jackson, and then Smith recovered a fumble that was forced by senior James Wyche. SU senior Kader Drame forced a fumble in the second quarter that was recovered by Tommy Harris.
In the third quarter, Jackson recorded SU’s fourth turnover of the day with an interception. The final WVU turnover was Smith’a second fumble recovery with 11:39 remaining in the game. That turnover was caused by SU sophomore Tony Jenkins.
Senior Steve Gregory led the Orange defense with nine tackles, including seven solo and one for a loss, and junior Kelvin Smith had eight tackles, including six solo.
SU quarterback Perry Patterson completed 15-of-31 passes for 85 yards. Orange junior punter Brendan Carney had a single-game career best 481 yards on 11 punts, including a 58-yard punt in the first quarter.
WVU quarterback Adam Bednarik led the Mountaineers with 72 yards rushing on 12 carries and was 14-of-21 for 104 yards in the air.
Prior to Sunday's game, Syracuse volunteers raised more than $57,000 in relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Syracuse will host the University of Buffalo on Saturday, September 10 at 3:30 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.
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