Syracuse University
Maine
Record Setter: Nassib Throws Five TDs
9/18/2010 7:58:58 PM | Football
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SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Junior quarterback Ryan Nassib set a Syracuse single-game record with five touchdown passes as Syracuse (2-1) defeated Maine (1-2) 38-14 on Saturday night at the Carrier Dome. After trailing 14-7 with 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the Orange rallied, scoring 31 unanswered points to claim victory in its home opener. It was the first home opening win for the Orange since defeating Cincinnati, 19-7, on September 18, 2004.
Nassib connected with five different receivers, including four – Nick Provo, Jose Cruz, Van Chew and Alec Lemon – for touchdowns. He finished with 260 yards on 19-for-28 passing. Chew was the leading receiver for the Orange, making seven catches for 113 yards while senior running back Delone Carter moved into 16th place on the SU all-time rushing list with 65 yards on 15 carries.
Maine scored the only points of the opening period on a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback Warren Smith with 4:25 on the clock. Smith's touchdown capped a 14-play, 84-yard drive by the Black Bears. Maine dominated time of possession in the opening quarter, holding the ball for 12:02 to Syracuse's 2:58.
Syracuse quickly answered on its first drive of the second quarter, tying the game at seven, as Nassib connected with Lemon for a three-yard touchdown pass at 12:34. The four-play, 27-yard drive began with a career-long 62-yard punt return by senior cornerback Mike Holmes and included a leaping catch by Chew for 25 yards.
The Black Bears responded on the ensuing drive as Smith connected with tight end Justin Perillo for a six-yard touchdown pass giving Maine a 14-7 lead. The score capped a five-play, 56-yard scoring drive for the visitors.
Freshman placekicker Ross Krautman cut the deficit, completing a 10-play, 40-yard scoring drive with a 32-yard field goal, making it 14-10 with 4:19 remaining before the half.
The Orange took its first lead of the game just before the break as Nassib connected with Cruz for a four-yard touchdown pass with 0:27 remaining on the clock. The score finished a 7-play, 24-yard scoring drive to give Syracuse a 17-14 advantage at the half.
Syracuse tacked on seven more points, 24-14, as Nassib found Lemon in the end zone for a second time with a 20-yard touchdown pass with 5:16 remaining in the third quarter. The catch completed a nine-play, 87-yard touchdown drive for the Orange, which included 27 yards on the ground by Carter and 35 yards through the air by Lemon.
With the third quarter winding down, Nassib found Provo in the corner of the end zone with 0:43 remaining, building the Orange edge, 31-14. The 20-yard touchdown pass completed a 5-play, 66-yard scoring drive which included 14-yards rushing by junior Antwon Bailey and 32 yards receiving by Lemon.
Nassib set the SU single-game record 15 seconds into the fourth quarter, connecting with Chew on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 14:45 left in regulation. The score produced the final, 38-14, marking the second-most points scored by the Orange in the Doug Marrone era.
SU remains at the Carrier Dome to host Colgate on Saturday, September 25 at 3:30 p.m. on ESPN3.
