Syracuse University
Connecticut
Paulus And Lemon Lead Orange At UConn
11/28/2009 12:50:43 PM | Football
Box Score | Syracuse Postgame Notes
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Syracuse (4-8, 1-6) concluded its 2009 season with a 56-31 loss to Connecticut (6-5, 2-4) on Saturday afternoon at Rentschler Field. Graduate student quarterback Greg Paulus concluded his SU career completing 24-of-32 attempts for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Paulus set both the SU single-season records for completions (193) and completion percentage (.677) and ranks third on the BIG EAST single-season completion percentage chart.
Freshman wide receiver Alec Lemon had a career day against the Huskies, posting his first career touchdown catch while setting career highs in receptions (9) and yards (140) in his first 100-yard receiving game. Senior wide receiver Lavar Lobdell also posted his first career touchdown catch in the fourth quarter and senior tight end Mike Owen caught his first touchdown of the season.
Senior Delone Carter logged his fourth career 100-yard rushing game, tallying 102 yards on 20 carries with a touchdown. With his performance against Connecticut, Carter surpassed the 1,000 yard rushing plateau for 2009, becoming the ninth different student-athlete in school history to do so.
Junior safety Mike Holmes, senior linebacker Mike Stenclik and freshman linebacker #E.J. Carter led the defense with eight tackles each. Junior linebacker Doug Hogue and sophomore defensive end Chandler Jones# each had six total tackles, while Jones led the defense with a pair of tackles for loss.
The Huskies opened the scoring with a 25 yard, eight-play drive capped off with a four-yard touchdown run by Andre Dixon. The Orange defense thwarted the scoring attempt inside the two-yard line on two occasions before Dixon was poked it in on third down.
Syracuse answered on its ensuing drive as freshman kicker Ryan Lichtenstein converted a 26-yard field goal attempt to cut the deficit, 7-3. Lichtenstein's field goal was the end of a 72 yard, 12 play scoring drive.
UConn quickly increased its advantage as Mike Lang returned a kickoff 80-yards to give the hosts a 14-3 edge with 2:37 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Orange came out firing in the second quarter, cutting the Huskies lead to four, 14-10, with an eight play, 80-yard scoring drive. Paulus marched Syracuse downfield, completing a 13-yard pass to Lemon and connecting with sophomore running back Averin Collier, who legged out a career-long 36-yard reception. Sophomore quarterback Ryan Nassib finished the drive, finding Owen in the end zone for a four-yard touchdown.
The Syracuse defense held the Huskies scoreless on their next two drives, forcing a three-and-out before limiting UConn to four plays and 17 yards on its following drive.
Connecticut regained its momentum, recovering a Syracuse fumble at the 43-yard line and taking advantage of the turnover with a two-play touchdown drive. Jordan Todman recorded the score for the Huskies with a 37-yard touchdown run, increasing their lead, 21-10, with 7:15 remaining in the half.
Syracuse cut the Huskies lead to four, 21-17, in the final two minutes of the first half with a seven-play, 52-yard scoring drive that included a 17-yard catch by Lemon, a 13-yard rush by Carter and a 20-yard reception by sophomore wide receiver Marcus Sales. Lemon capped off the drive with his first career touchdown reception on a three-yard pass by Paulus.
The Huskies had a 28-17 lead at the half after Dixon scored his second touchdown with six seconds remaining in the half.
UConn opened the second half with another score as quarterback Zach Frazer connected with Marcus Easley for an eight-yard touchdown play. The touchdown pass completed a 15-play, 80-yard drive for the hosts, giving them a 35-17 lead.
As the third quarter wound down, freshman cornerback Phillip Thomas swung momentum back to the Orange, intercepting a pass attempt by Frazer at the Syracuse 37 yard line. Syracuse capitalized on the turnover to start the fourth quarter, as Paulus found high school teammate Lobdell for a 12-yard touchdown play. The touchdown finished a 63-yard four-play scoring drive for the Orange which included a 30-yard reception by Lemon. The touchdown cut the Huskies lead, 35-24.
Dixon quickly increased the separation for Connecticut, 42-24, breaking free for a 45-yard touchdown run, his third rushing score of the game.
The Orange refused to back down, answering the Huskies touchdown with a nine-play, 84-yard scoring drive. Paulus once again marched Syracuse downfield, completing passes to Carter, sophomore wide receiver Van Chew, Owen, Sales and a pair to Lemon, which included a career-long 33-yard catch for the freshman. Carter capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown run, cutting the Connecticut advantage, 42-31 with 9:27 remaining in the game.
The Huskies put the game away with a 28-yard touchdown strike from Frazer to Easley and a fumble recovery and 34-yard return for a touchdown by Dwayne Gratz to produce the final, 56-31.
