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Syracuse University
Miami (OH)
SU Wins Second Straight; Defeats Miami (OH), 34-14
9/23/2006 6:50:23 PM | Football
The Orange swarmed Miami quarterbacks Mike Kokal and Daniel Raudabaugh the entire game. Safety Joe Fields recorded the first sack of his career on the game’s opening play, and Jameel McClain registered two sacks in the opening quarter. Defensive tackle Tony Jenkins led the SU defense with a career-high eight tackles, including half a sack and two stops for a loss. Defensive end Cornelius Campbell also recorded a personal best with two sacks. The defense held the RedHawks to a season-low 31 yards rushing on 29 attempts.
The Orange rolled up more than 300 yards of total offense for the second straight game (315 yds.). Perry Patterson threw for 163 yards on 14-of-20 passing and two touchdowns. With the two touchdown throws, Patterson moved into a tie for seventh on SU’s career touchdown passes list with Pat Stark (1951-53) and Bill Hurley (1975-79) with 19 career TD throws.
Curtis Brinkley led the Orange ground attack and rushed for a career-high 108 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown in the contest. Delone Carter carried 11 times for 71 yards. Rice Moss caught an eight-yard pass in the second quarter, extending his consecutive games with a catch streak to 16.
SU jumped on the RedHawks early, scoring on its first two offensive possessions. On the Orange’s first drive, Brinkley ran four times for 39 yards and went up and over the pile from one yard out to give the Orange a 6-0 lead at the 10:02 mark of the first quarter. It was Brinkley’s first career touchdown and the play capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive.
After the Orange defense forced an MU three-and-out on the ensuing possession, Patterson went for it all on first down and connected with junior receiver Taj Smith for a 52-yard touchdown strike to put SU in front, 13-0, with 7:32 to play in the opening quarter. The touchdown was Smith’s fourth of the season and marked his third consecutive game with a TD catch. SU’s two first-quarter touchdowns marked the fourth straight game it hit pay dirt in the opening period.
The Redhawks got the scoreboard on the first play of the second quarter when Kokal hit Ryne Robinson for a nine-yard touchdown strike six seconds into the period to put the finishing touches on a 10-play, 60-yard scoring march.
On Miami’s next possession, senior linebacker Kelvin Smith blocked a field goal attempt to preserve SU’s 14-7 margin. SU extended its lead to 17-7 on a 36-yard Shadle field goal with 9:15 remaining in the third.
The Orange put the icing on the victory with 17 points in the fourth quarter, including touchdowns by tight end Jawad Nesheiwat, a 33-yard field goal, and sophomore Ben Maljovec’s interception return for a touchdown.
