Syracuse University Game Notes vs. East Carolina
Syracuse, N.Y. - Carrier Dome
Update on condition of back judge Gerry Bram
As of 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 29, Bram is at University Hospital. He was diagnosed as having had a major heart attack. Bram was stabilized, but breathing with a machine in intensive care.
Junior quarterback Troy Nunes started the game in place of sophomore R.J. Anderson. Anderson was diagnosed with the flu before the game. Anderson returned to start the second half. Nunes returned to the game on SU's third drive of the second half.
Keeon Walker's 12-yard fumble return in the first quarter was a career-long. Walker's previous best was a seven-yard return versus Buffalo in 2000. Quentin Harris forced the fumble on what was a 40-yard pickup by East Carolina running back Leonard Henry. It was Harris' second forced fumble of the season.
Quentin Harris tied his career-high when he intercepted his third pass of the season in the third quarter. Harris is now tied for 10th on the SU all-time interception list with nin. Harris last had three interceptions as a redshirt freshman in 1998.
Running back James Mungro moved into an 11th place tie with Robert Drummond on the Syracuse all-time rushing list. Mungro's 76 yards in the game give him 2,164 for his career. Mungro passed Jim Brown (2,091) on his second carry of the first quarter.
The fumble by James Mungro in the third quarter snapped SU's 15-game streak without a fumble by a tailback. It was Mungro's first fumble since Syracuse's victory in the 1999 Music City Bowl.
Jamel Riddle's 38-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter was his first career touchdown catch.
Troy Nunes' touchdown pass to Jamel Riddle was his first touchdown pass of the season. It was Nunes' first touchdown pass since a 78-yard score to Maurice Jackson versus Virginia Tech last season.
Dwight Freeney recorded his first sack of the game in the second quarter, extending his games with a sacks streak to 13. Freeney now has 25.5 sacks for his career, second all-time at Syracuse. Freeney's second sack in the fourth quarter extended his consecutive games streak with two sacks to seven.
Kwazi Leverette's 46-yard reception in the second quarter was his first career catch. Leverette also caught an 11-yard pass on the same drive that gave the Orangemen a first and goal on the ECU six-yard line. SU converted on a touchdown pass from Nunes to Jeremie Frazier. It was Frazier's first career touchdown catch.
Troy Nunes' career-high four touchdown passes was the first time since Donovan McNabb versus Cincinnati in 1998 that a Syracuse quarterback threw four touchdowns in one game. It was Nunes' third game with at least three touchdown passes (Central Michigan -1999; Pittsburgh - 1999).
Troy Nunes' 17 completions puts him into fifth place on the SU career completions list with 237. Nunes passed Bill Hurley (228) with his final completion of the first half, the touchdown pass to Jeremie Frazier.
Troy Nunes' first completion of the third quarter, a 15-yard toss to Malik Campbell, made him the fifth quarterback in Syracuse history with more than 3,000 yards passing in a career. Nunes now has 3,144 career passing yards. He needs 254 yards to catch Bill Hurley (3,398) for fourth place. The other three quarterbacks to record more than 3,000 career passing yards are Marvin Graves (8,466), Donovan McNabb (8,389) and Don McPherson (5,812).
Leonard Henry's 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the longest run the SU defense had allowed since Michigan's Walter Cross also had a 66-yard run from scrimmage in 1998.
Justin Sujansky's 43-yard field goal in the third quarter is the longest of his career. Sujansky's previous best was a 40-yard kick versus Auburn.
The Syracuse defense forced four turnovers (two fumbles, two interceptions). It marked the fourth consecutive game that the Orangemen have had at least four takeaways. SU's fourth forced turnover was a fumble forced by Charles Burton and recovered by Rich Scanlon. It was Burton's first career forced fumble and Scanlon's first career recovery.
