Syracuse University
2-1
Southern California
3-0
USC Hands SU First Loss of Season
9/17/2011 11:30:19 PM | Football
LOS ANGELES -- Orange quarterback Ryan Nassib connected on 25-of-37 passes, including his first 11 in a row, and threw for 230 yards in Syracuse's 38-17 loss at the University of Southern California on Saturday at the Los Angeles Coliseum. It was the first loss of the season for the Orange, which is now 2-1, while the Trojans are 3-0. Tight end Nick Provo had a career-high eight catches for 85 yards, including a career-tying 33-yard reception in the third quarter, extending his streak to 16 consecutive games with a reception.
Nassib and the Orange offense moved the ball down the field on the team's opening drive, highlighted by an eight-of-eight passing performance for 54 yards by Nassib. Facing a third-and-five on his own 28-yard line on SU's opening drive, Nassib found Alec Lemon over the middle for a 16-yard pickup to move the chains. Bailey, who tied a career-high with four receptions in the first quarter, had 34 receiving yards on SU's first drive, which was capped by a 23-yard field goal from Ross Krautman with 8:16 left in the first quarter.
Nassib opened the game completing his first 11 completions, which combined with his 11 consecutive pass completions to end the game against Rhode Island gave him 22 in a row, which is four shy of the FBS record set by Aaron Rodgers at California.
After the Trojans forced a three-and-out from the Orange with less than 11 minutes left in the first half, USC extended its lead to 14-3 on a 31-yard pass from Barkley to Woods, capping a six-play, 58-yard drive. Andre Heidari added a 26-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining in the half to give the Trojans a two-touchdown lead, 17-3 at intermission.
USC scored a touchdown to open the second half and increase its lead to 21, 24-3, in the first two minutes. The Orange cut the lead to 14 on a 28-yard touchdown pass from receiver Lemon to Van Chew after a lateral from Nassib. The Trojans put the game away, however, scoring the next two touchdwns before Nassib found Lemon for the game's final touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Barkley finished the game on 26-of-39 passing for 324 yards and five scores, and completed eight passes to Robert Woods for 82 yards. He became the first quarterback to throw five touchdown passes against Syracuse since Virginia Tech's Bryan Randall in 2002.
Orange free safety Phillip Thomas led the defense with 11 tackles, including six solo and one for a loss of yards, and one forced fumble.
The Orange will return to the Carrier Dome to host Toledo next Saturday, September 24 (12:00 p.m., BIG EAST Network). Individual and season tickets are available for the game online, at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B) and by phone (888-DOMETIX). Season tickets start at $99, while the Time Warner Triple Play Pack, which offers one ticket to any three home games, starts at $72.
Team Stats
SYR 3, USC 0
SYR - KRAUTMAN, Ross 23 yd field goal 12 plays, 70 yards, TOP 6:44
SYR 3, USC 7
USC - Ellison, Rhett 5 yd pass from Barkley, Matt (Heidari, Andre kick) 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 4:47
SYR 3, USC 14
USC - Woods, Robert 31 yd pass from Barkley, Matt (Heidari, Andre kick) 6 plays, 58 yards, TOP 2:34
SYR 3, USC 17
USC - Heidari, Andre 26 yd field goal 12 plays, 45 yards, TOP 4:23
SYR 3, USC 24
USC - Telfer, Randall 44 yd pass from Barkley, Matt (Heidari, Andre kick) 4 plays, 64 yards, TOP 2:02
SYR 10, USC 24
SYR - CHEW, Van 28 yd pass from LEMON, Alec (KRAUTMAN, Ross kick) 5 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:08
SYR 10, USC 31
USC - Lee, Marqise 43 yd pass from Barkley, Matt (Heidari, Andre kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:14
SYR 10, USC 38
USC - Grimble, Xavier 9 yd pass from Barkley, Matt (Heidari, Andre kick) 10 plays, 70 yards, TOP 4:27
SYR 17, USC 38
SYR - LEMON, Alec 12 yd pass from NASSIB, Ryan (KRAUTMAN, Ross kick) 13 plays, 86 yards, TOP 5:09
