The Daily OrangeLION KINGS: Inept Syracuse offense limps to 28-7 loss at Penn State
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 9/12/09, 3:14 PM EST Section: Sports
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - He held the bitterness back, biting his lip at every turn. Yes, this was Penn State, an overwhelming 29-point favorite. Yes, this was Happy Valley, a nightmare for any opponent. Syracuse was supposed to lose.
But not this way. That's what stung Alec Lemon. Gripping his Subway bag a tad tighter, the freshman wide receiver shook his head and fought the frustration back.
"We're hurting ourselves, we're beating ourselves," Lemon said. "It's self-inflicted."
This was probably the best team it'll face all season, but Syracuse pointed the finger squarely back at itself after Saturday's 28-7 loss here at Beaver Stadium. Dropped passes, turnovers, misreads - a bevy of missed opportunities. The offense never found a rhythm against Penn State.
Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone did not want to engage in a firefight with Penn State (2-0). Considering the Nittany Lions powerful arsenal of offensive weapons, inviting a shootout would have been a death sentence. So Marrone kept it simple. He wanted to keep the game dull, keep Penn State's offense off the field and hope to steal a win at the end.
Instead, miscues marred Syracuse (0-2).
"The plan had merit to it," Marrone said. "The plan could have worked easily. We had to make more plays."
Momentum swayed in SU's direction early. Down 7-0 in the first quarter, Syracuse's defense stoned Penn State on four straight plays at the goal line to get the ball back. Coaches flooded onto the field in celebration as players stormed off it. Andrew Lewis and Bud Tribbey leapt into the air for a chest bump. A raucous crowd of 106,387 fell silent.
But consequently, SU tripped into the wrong end of a field position battle. Any offensive rhythm was stunted by two straight drives that began at the 2-yard line. After exchanging punts, Penn State made the score 14-0 on an Evan Royster touchdown run.
Syracuse didn't use poor field position as a cop-out.
"We practice for those situations," Lemon said. "It's on us. We need to get out of those situations."
But not this way. That's what stung Alec Lemon. Gripping his Subway bag a tad tighter, the freshman wide receiver shook his head and fought the frustration back.
"We're hurting ourselves, we're beating ourselves," Lemon said. "It's self-inflicted."
This was probably the best team it'll face all season, but Syracuse pointed the finger squarely back at itself after Saturday's 28-7 loss here at Beaver Stadium. Dropped passes, turnovers, misreads - a bevy of missed opportunities. The offense never found a rhythm against Penn State.
Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone did not want to engage in a firefight with Penn State (2-0). Considering the Nittany Lions powerful arsenal of offensive weapons, inviting a shootout would have been a death sentence. So Marrone kept it simple. He wanted to keep the game dull, keep Penn State's offense off the field and hope to steal a win at the end.
Instead, miscues marred Syracuse (0-2).
"The plan had merit to it," Marrone said. "The plan could have worked easily. We had to make more plays."
Momentum swayed in SU's direction early. Down 7-0 in the first quarter, Syracuse's defense stoned Penn State on four straight plays at the goal line to get the ball back. Coaches flooded onto the field in celebration as players stormed off it. Andrew Lewis and Bud Tribbey leapt into the air for a chest bump. A raucous crowd of 106,387 fell silent.
But consequently, SU tripped into the wrong end of a field position battle. Any offensive rhythm was stunted by two straight drives that began at the 2-yard line. After exchanging punts, Penn State made the score 14-0 on an Evan Royster touchdown run.
Syracuse didn't use poor field position as a cop-out.
"We practice for those situations," Lemon said. "It's on us. We need to get out of those situations."
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Fred hawksley
posted 9/12/09 @ 8:23 PM EST
GREAT FOOTBALL GAME SU
and anyone that says differently is an idiot !
Number 5 in the Country my aspinol, we could have won that contes and did not. (Continued…)
lepusrex
Fred hawksley
posted 9/12/09 @ 8:34 PM EST
i can not believe it, i just commented on this article and it was lost simply because i was not logged in, what gives
Anyway, GO SU ATHLETES do not pay ANY attention to the naysayers as most have never played even one game of ANY SMASH MOUTH sport,
Keep up the GRAET WORK, remember, PS is number 5 in the Country ( my aspenall they are ) anyway, you guys made them punt the ball away ETC ETC so they are being SCOLDED right now muchmore than you are. (Continued…)
zetabeta5
posted 9/12/09 @ 11:33 PM EST
No one in the entire sporting world thought we would win....The goal line stand was truly great... The William's drop was a real momo killer...Second game in a row that the ball hit in the chest. (Continued…)
CUSENUT
posted 9/13/09 @ 7:04 AM EST
ORANGE DEFENSE CONTINUES TO PLAY WELL~~~~BUT THEIR TOUGHEST OPPONENT IS ORANGE OFFENSE!!! EVERYONE KNEW LINE WAS SUSPECT, BUT IF THE WIDEOUTS CONTINUE TO DROP PERFECTLY-THROWN PASSES LEADING TO KILLED DRIVES AND INTERCEPTIONS TEAM IS UP AGAINST IT EVERY GAME AND OPPONENTS WILL CONTINUE TO RACK UP GIFT-WRAPPED WINS COURTESY OF S. (Continued…)
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