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The Daily OrangeFB | Fading away
Syracuse collapses in 4th quarter, falls to Pitt in Big East opener
By John Clayton
Posted: 9/29/08, 12:53 AM EST Section: Sports
With each big play and defensive stop, the Orange sideline swelled. That confidence - evident only in flashes these past three-and-a-half seasons - was all of a sudden brimming.
Then the fourth quarter came.
The Orange's bend-but-don't-break defense was gashed open by the Panthers' tailback tandem of LaRod Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy, which combined for 220 rushing yards. Stephens-Howling scored both of Pitt's fourth quarter touchdowns, the first of which knotted the game at 24 less than a minute into the frame (the ensuing two-point conversion try was good).
"I don't feel like they made any adjustments," said senior safety Bruce Williams. "They ran a power (run) play seven times in a row. We've seen it. It's just a matter of us getting right and tightening down."
Amid the Panthers flurry, Syracuse's run-fueled offense stalled, failing to keep hold of the ball and give the Orange defense a breather. (The Panthers dominated time of possession by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.) "One thing goes wrong, or one series goes wrong or we go three-and-out, it just seems like our rhythm gets upset," Dantley said.
The junior quarterback also committed one costly turnover. With Pitt clinging to a 27-24 lead, defensive end Greg Romeus forced a Dantley fumble that the Panthers recovered deep in SU territory. Eight plays later, Stephens-Howling bounced right and loped into the end zone from three yards out to give the Panthers a 10-point edge with under four minutes left.
Robinson stood motionless on the sideline as the play unfolded - no reaction from the coach who has now won twice in 22 Big East games. After a few seconds he looked up toward the video screen just in time to watch a replay of the score: A second glance at yet another game slipping through the embattled head coach's grasp.
"I thought we were going to be good enough to win the football game, and there was moments in that game that I thought we had our chances to win the football game," Robinson said. "They played better in the last 10 minutes of the football game than we did."
jsclayto@syr.edu
Then the fourth quarter came.
The Orange's bend-but-don't-break defense was gashed open by the Panthers' tailback tandem of LaRod Stephens-Howling and LeSean McCoy, which combined for 220 rushing yards. Stephens-Howling scored both of Pitt's fourth quarter touchdowns, the first of which knotted the game at 24 less than a minute into the frame (the ensuing two-point conversion try was good).
"I don't feel like they made any adjustments," said senior safety Bruce Williams. "They ran a power (run) play seven times in a row. We've seen it. It's just a matter of us getting right and tightening down."
Amid the Panthers flurry, Syracuse's run-fueled offense stalled, failing to keep hold of the ball and give the Orange defense a breather. (The Panthers dominated time of possession by a nearly 2-to-1 margin.) "One thing goes wrong, or one series goes wrong or we go three-and-out, it just seems like our rhythm gets upset," Dantley said.
The junior quarterback also committed one costly turnover. With Pitt clinging to a 27-24 lead, defensive end Greg Romeus forced a Dantley fumble that the Panthers recovered deep in SU territory. Eight plays later, Stephens-Howling bounced right and loped into the end zone from three yards out to give the Panthers a 10-point edge with under four minutes left.
Robinson stood motionless on the sideline as the play unfolded - no reaction from the coach who has now won twice in 22 Big East games. After a few seconds he looked up toward the video screen just in time to watch a replay of the score: A second glance at yet another game slipping through the embattled head coach's grasp.
"I thought we were going to be good enough to win the football game, and there was moments in that game that I thought we had our chances to win the football game," Robinson said. "They played better in the last 10 minutes of the football game than we did."
jsclayto@syr.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Marc LeVine
posted 9/29/08 @ 12:52 PM EST
What power is it that protects against the upset? What takes the fun out of sports and makes it so the favored team wins over 90% of the time - even when the favored team needs to come from behind late in the game?
I tuned into the game midway through the first quarter and thought I was thrust back in time by eight or nine years. (Continued…)
Kristen - Class of 92
posted 9/29/08 @ 2:36 PM EST
Fading away? YOU CAN'T FADE WHEN YOU WEREN'T THERE TO BEGIN WITH!!!!! The fading occurred years ago in the Pasqualoni regime.....Crouthamel let Pasqualoni lose for far too long and now Gross is doing the same?!!!!!! This program is so far gone at this point, it will take at least 10+ years to come back, with GOOD leadership - which starts with a new AD. (Continued…)
PJ
posted 9/29/08 @ 3:27 PM EST
When does Lloyd Carr start?
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