Syracuse Loses Season Opener at Northwestern

Saturday, August 30

Evanston, Ill.

12:00 p.m.

Syracuse University

Northwestern

Senior tailback Curtis Brinkley led the Orange in rushing and scored the first touchdown of the season at Northwestern.

8/30/2008 5:25:47 PM | Football

Boxscore

Syracuse Game Notes

EVANSTON, ILL. – Senior running back Curtis Brinkley scored the first touchdown of the year in Syracuse's season opener at Northwestern, as the Orange rushed for 122 yards against the Wildcats. Brinkley's score was set up by sophomore defensive end Jared Kimmel's forced fumble which was recovered by senior Vincenzo Giruzzi, the first fumble recovery of his career. Northwestern won the game, 30-10.

Senior strong safety A.J. Brown led the Orange defense, registering a career-high 11 tackles to go along with his sixth career interception. Giruzzi also put forth a career-best effort by logging nine total tackles paired up with the fumble recovery and his first career sack. Other Orange defenders that earned career-bests in tackles were senior sophomore safety Randy McKinnon with eight, free safety Paul Chiara with five, and sophomore defensive tackle Anthony Perkins with four.

Brinkley led all Orange with 49 yards on nine rushes in his return to the gridiron after his injury against Buffalo in 2007, forcing him to miss the final four games of the season. Sophomore running back Delone Carter tallied 45 yards on six attempts in his welcome-back to the turf after missing all of last season with a hip injury.

Junior quarterback Andrew Robinson completed 14 tosses on 28 attempts for 103 yards and one interception. Sophomore Donte Davis made an Orange-best four receptions for 38 yards. Davis' initial reception was his first since 2006.Junior Laval Lobdell and sophomore Doug Hogue each collected two receptions for 22 and 12 yards, in that order.

Syracuse grabbed the opening kick and strung together a nine play, 63-yard drive capped off by a 36-yard Patrick Shadle field goal. Shadle's three-pointer marked his 27th career field goal, moving him into eighth-place all-time for most field goals by an Orange kicker. The drive was highlighted by a Robinson 13-yard pass to Lobdell followed up by a 28-yard dart up the right side by Brinkley to the Northwestern 39. Brinkley's run was one-yard short of an Orange season-high set by the four-year back last year against Rutgers. The Orange ran six more snaps before the three-pointer by Shadle to give Syracuse the early advantage, running 4:27 off the clock.

The Wildcats returned the ensuing kick 40 yards and converted two first downs before Brown closed in on a C.J. Bacher pass attempt for the interception. The Orange started its second drive at 9:04 of the first quarter, but could not capitalize on the turnover.

Each team traded punts to bring the first quarter to a conclusion, with Syracuse leading 3-0. Sophomore punter Rob Long's punt of 72 yards was tied for third longest in Syracuse history.

Robinson converted five passes on eight attempts for 32 yards in the quarter. Brinkley added onto his 28-yard sprint, totaling 37 yards in the quarter on six rushes.

Syracuse's blanked Northwestern in the first quarter; denoting the first time that Syracuse has shutout an opponent since the Pittsburgh match last season.

The Orange was forced to start its first drive at its own three-yard line after a Stefan Demoss punt. The Wildcats applied heavy pressure deep in SU territory, coercing Robinson to throw the ball away while he was in the endzone to avoid the sack. Robinson was flagged for intentional grounding, giving Northwestern two-points by forcing the safety.

The Wildcats went three-and-out on their next drive, handing over possession to the Orange on the SU eight-yard line. Robinson connected on two successive passes to senior Tony Fiammetta and sophomore Donte Davis for 11 and eight yards, respectively. Carter flashed up the left side of the field for a hearty gain of 32 yards down to the 'Cats 41. SU ran three more plays, positioning Shadle for a 51-yard field goal. Shadle blasted the ball, but unfortunately it hit off the left side of the goal post.

At 6:01 of the second quarter, the Wildcats marched 55 yards for the first touchdown of the game. Bacher linked up with Jeremy Ebert at 3:20, ending the six-play drive with the lead, 9-3.

Sophomore kick returner Max Suter took the ensuing kick back 28 yards, but the Orange could not take advantage of the good field position, and were obliged to bring Long on for the kick at 2:15. Northwestern's drive stalled at SU's 49-yard line, closing out the first half with the Wildcats clinging onto a six-point lead, 9-3.

Northwestern received the kick to start off the second half, but on the first play of the drive, Sutton was met by Kimmel, who forced his second career fumble. Giruzzi picked up the loose ball at Northwestern's nine-yard line. Syracuse pounded the ball three times, tying the game on its third try on a two-yard Brinkley touchdown at 13:22 of the third quarter. Shadle came on for the extra point, pushing it through to give the Orange a 10-9 lead.

On the following drive, the Wildcats drove 76 yards to recapture the lead on a Sutton touchdown at 8:14 of the third stanza. The 13-play, 5:08 drive was kept alive when McKinnon was whistled for a pass interference call on third and seven. NU was dealt a fresh set of downs and finished off the scoring drive on a 12-yard screen pass to Sutton, taking back the lead, 16-10, following the PAT.

The Orange defense stood tall on its next stand, forcing Northwestern to punt. The Orange started its drive on its 15-yard line with 3:40 remaining in the third, but on third and four, NU's Brendan Smith picked off a Robinson attempt at the Orange 26. Smith returned the interception into the endzone, extending the 'Cats advantage, 23-10, following the extra try with 2:13 remaining in the third frame.

Northwestern's started its final scoring drive at 12:38 on its own 20. The 'Cats controlled the clock for 4:20; crossing the goal line on the 12th play of the charge. Bacher connected with Josh Rooks on a two-yard play action pass, broadening the lead, 30-10.

Syracuse (0-1) will play its first game at the Carrier Dome in 2008 when it hosts Akron (0-1) at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 6.

All 2008 season and individual tickets are available online and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX). Season ticket packages begin at $100 in Touchdown Town. Adult season tickets are $205, youth/student season tickets are $115 and faculty/staff season tickets are $164. A 2008 Penn State Pack, which includes tickets for SU’s games against Penn State (Sept. 13) and Pittsburgh (Sept. 27) or Penn State and Connecticut (Nov. 15), is also available. The cost of the two-game package is $85 for adults and $40 for youth. Individual game tickets for Akron, Northeastern, Pittsburgh, Louisville and Connecticut are $36 for adults and $18 for youth (ages 12 and under). Individual game tickets for Penn State are $57 for adults and $30 for youth.