Syracuse Postgame Notes
vs. Akron - September 4, 2010
2010 Syracuse University Football Postgame Notes
Syracuse at Akron
Saturday, September 4, 2010
InfoCision Stadium-Summa Field/Akron, Ohio
TEAM NOTES
• Saturday’s game marked the Orange’s first trip to Akron to face the Zips.
• The win was Syracuse’s first season-opening victory since it defeated North Carolina (49-47 3OT) on the road in the 2003 campaign starter.
• It was the first road victory for the Orange under second-year head coach Doug Marrone.
• The Orange is now 77-40-4 all-time in season openers and 11-22 in road openers.
• Syracuse improved to 2-1 all-time against Akron and 47-36-1 against Mid-American Conference (MAC) opponents.
• The victory was the 678th in program history. Syracuse ranks 15th on the NCAA’s list of the winningest Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams.
• Running back Delone Carter was the fourth game captain for the Orange at Akron. Carter grew up in Copley, Ohio approximately 15 miles from Akron.
• Seven Orange players made the first starts of their career in the game.
Offense: Justin Pugh (LT), Zach Chibane (LG), Michael Hay (RT), Jose Cruz (TE), Adam Harris (FB),
Ryan Nassib (QB).
Defense: Marquis Spruill (LB).
• The Orange defense held the Zips to three points, the fewest points allowed for Syracuse since it shut out Buffalo (31-0) on Sept. 10, 2005. It was the fewest points allowed by the Orange in a season opener since 1997 when it shut out Wisconsin 34-0 in the Kickoff Classic.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Quarterback Ryan Nassib threw for a personal-best 229 yards on 17-for-27 passing and two touchdowns in his first collegiate start.
• Running back Delone Carter carried 26 times for 91 yards and a touchdown Saturday. In three career games against the Zips, Carter has rushed for an average of 116.3 yards per game.
• Fullback Adam Harris made a five-yard reception on SU’s opening drive. It was the first catch of his career.
• Wide receiver Aaron Weaver’s first catch for the Orange was a 23-yard TD reception that gave the team a 7-0 lead with 10:03 left in the first quarter.
• Kicker Ross Krautman scored his first collegiate point when he added the extra point following Weaver’s touchdown. Krautman also connected on the first field-goal attempt of his career, a 47-yarder, that gave the Orange a 10-0 advantage with 11:21 left in the first half.
• Receiver Van Chew’s 45-yard reception in the second quarter was the longest of his career. Chew finished with a career-high three catches for personal-best 79 yards and a touchdown.
• Defensive end Mikhail Marinovich, free safety Phillip Thomas and strong safety Shamarko Thomas each recorded the first pass breakup of their careers in the first half.
• Punter Rob Long’s 70-yard boot in the third quarter was tied for the third-longest of his career and the ninth-longest punt in team history.
• Defensive end Chandler Jones blocked a 39-yard field-goal attempt by Akron in the third quarter. It was the second consecutive season opener in which an SU player blocked a field goal (Anthony Perkins vs. Minnesota, 2009). The blocked kick was the first of Jones’ career.
• Cornerback Mike Holmes scooped up the blocked field goal and returned it 57 yards for a touchdown to make the score 23-3 Orange. It was the first blocked field goal returned for a TD on record for the Orange going back to 1980.
• Tight end Jose Cruz made his first reception as a member of the Orange in the third quarter. It went for three yards.
• Tight end Nick Provo made a career-long 33-yard reception to set up the Orange’s fourth touchdown.
