Spring Break
The Daily OrangeFB | DEVINE INTERVENTION: Noel Devine's 92-yard, fourth-quarter TD spoils Syracuse's upset hopes at WVU
By Andy McCullough
Posted: 10/11/08, 5:25 PM EST Section: Sports
Because for something completely different, Greg Robinson's team gambled plenty on Saturday. The Orange came out throwing the ball, went for it on fourth down in two crucial spots and experimented with a new defense.
For something completely normal, the gameplan didn't result in a win. The passing game dried up. West Virginia (4-2, 2-0 Big East) stopped both fourth down attempts, including a crucial 4th-and-4 from the WVU five-yard line. And Syracuse's new 4-2-5 defense, which had slowed the WVU offense and burst their continuous stream of bubble screens all day, couldn't prevent Devine's field-length end zone scamper, a dagger to the Orange's heart.
"It really is unfortunate because it should have been stopped," Robinson said. "It's just that simple. It's that simple. We should have stopped that play. We would have had an opportunity."
The Orange managed only two field goals in the first half and trailed 7-6 at the break, despite a strong start from quarterback Cameron Dantley. He completed 15 passes for 137 yards in the first half.
"We started out good, we just need to know how to continue that the whole game," said Dantley, who finished with 204 yards on 24-of-40 passing.
The Syracuse offense came out flat for the second half, with two straight three-and-outs. Then the mistakes and missed chances cascaded down: an interception from Dantley, followed by two failed fourth down conversions on late possession.
It culminated on Syracuse's penultimate drive of the game, after the first two miscues. Brinkley carried the team into the red zone on the next possession, rushing eight times as the clock wound down. Then the Mountaineers dug in and the Orange staggered. Facing a 4th-and-4 at the five, Dantley was flushed out of the pocket and hit. The pass was broken up. West Virginia took over with 4:42 remaining.
Then Devine exploded and Syracuse was out of chances. The Orange players could only watch the game sprint past them in the form of a 5-foot-8, 173-pound blur.
"Their hearts are broken right now," Greg Robinson said. "They have 24 hours to deal with that. But that's how it works. They have to get back up."
ramccull@syr.edu
For something completely normal, the gameplan didn't result in a win. The passing game dried up. West Virginia (4-2, 2-0 Big East) stopped both fourth down attempts, including a crucial 4th-and-4 from the WVU five-yard line. And Syracuse's new 4-2-5 defense, which had slowed the WVU offense and burst their continuous stream of bubble screens all day, couldn't prevent Devine's field-length end zone scamper, a dagger to the Orange's heart.
"It really is unfortunate because it should have been stopped," Robinson said. "It's just that simple. It's that simple. We should have stopped that play. We would have had an opportunity."
The Orange managed only two field goals in the first half and trailed 7-6 at the break, despite a strong start from quarterback Cameron Dantley. He completed 15 passes for 137 yards in the first half.
"We started out good, we just need to know how to continue that the whole game," said Dantley, who finished with 204 yards on 24-of-40 passing.
The Syracuse offense came out flat for the second half, with two straight three-and-outs. Then the mistakes and missed chances cascaded down: an interception from Dantley, followed by two failed fourth down conversions on late possession.
It culminated on Syracuse's penultimate drive of the game, after the first two miscues. Brinkley carried the team into the red zone on the next possession, rushing eight times as the clock wound down. Then the Mountaineers dug in and the Orange staggered. Facing a 4th-and-4 at the five, Dantley was flushed out of the pocket and hit. The pass was broken up. West Virginia took over with 4:42 remaining.
Then Devine exploded and Syracuse was out of chances. The Orange players could only watch the game sprint past them in the form of a 5-foot-8, 173-pound blur.
"Their hearts are broken right now," Greg Robinson said. "They have 24 hours to deal with that. But that's how it works. They have to get back up."
ramccull@syr.edu
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