The Daily OrangeUP FROM THE ASHES: Syracuse pummels Rutgers en route to first Big East win
By Tyler Dunne
Posted: 11/21/09, 6:46 PM EST Section: Sports
Teammates slapping his helmet and ripping at his jersey, Averin Collier somehow reconvened with Delone Carter on the sideline. Collier had just provided the knockout punch, a 60-yard scamper to seal Syracuse's 31-13 win over No. 25 Rutgers.
Carter clutched Collier by the shoulders, the two embraced and the moment soaked in. For this team, such moments have been rare this year.
"When you look at everything we've been through and how you attack it mentally and physically," Carter said. "When you can overcome that, you can be very proud of yourselves."
One week after being eliminated from bowl contention, Syracuse dominated. Everything that has gone wrong this season went right. The Carrier Dome was a three-hour cloud nine for Syracuse (4-7), a bizarre world of sorts. Rutgers (7-3) is heading to a bowl game. Not Syracuse.
But on Saturday, weeks of pent-up frustration, devastating injuries and adversity were released in front of 36,759 fans on Senior Day. Rutgers was caught in a buzzsaw.
"We want to get this Syracuse team on a roll and this is the start of it right now," said right tackle Josh White. "We came in against a Top 25 team with a point to prove."
Point, proved. Facing the nation's No. 12-ranked rush defense, Syracuse rang up 213 yards on the ground. Haunted by demoralizing interceptions all season, Greg Paulus (13-of-16 for 142 yards) was sharp in SU's rotation system at quarterback. And riddled with injuries, the defense invaded Rutgers' backfield all day. Nine sacks in all.
The Orange wasted no time, racing to a 21-2 start. Touchdown runs by Carter, Antwon Bailey and a play-action pass by Paulus to tight end Carl Cutler buried Rutgers early. Despite a rash of special teams errors, including a blocked punt for a safety, Syracuse set the tempo. Carter and Bailey finally formed the thunder-lighting effect people expected before the season. Carter's mash and Bailey's flash kept the Scarlet Knights defense backpedalling all day. Carter rushed for 67 yards on 22 carries. Bailey had 77 on 16 attempts and Collier added 66 on six.
Carter clutched Collier by the shoulders, the two embraced and the moment soaked in. For this team, such moments have been rare this year.
"When you look at everything we've been through and how you attack it mentally and physically," Carter said. "When you can overcome that, you can be very proud of yourselves."
One week after being eliminated from bowl contention, Syracuse dominated. Everything that has gone wrong this season went right. The Carrier Dome was a three-hour cloud nine for Syracuse (4-7), a bizarre world of sorts. Rutgers (7-3) is heading to a bowl game. Not Syracuse.
But on Saturday, weeks of pent-up frustration, devastating injuries and adversity were released in front of 36,759 fans on Senior Day. Rutgers was caught in a buzzsaw.
"We want to get this Syracuse team on a roll and this is the start of it right now," said right tackle Josh White. "We came in against a Top 25 team with a point to prove."
Point, proved. Facing the nation's No. 12-ranked rush defense, Syracuse rang up 213 yards on the ground. Haunted by demoralizing interceptions all season, Greg Paulus (13-of-16 for 142 yards) was sharp in SU's rotation system at quarterback. And riddled with injuries, the defense invaded Rutgers' backfield all day. Nine sacks in all.
The Orange wasted no time, racing to a 21-2 start. Touchdown runs by Carter, Antwon Bailey and a play-action pass by Paulus to tight end Carl Cutler buried Rutgers early. Despite a rash of special teams errors, including a blocked punt for a safety, Syracuse set the tempo. Carter and Bailey finally formed the thunder-lighting effect people expected before the season. Carter's mash and Bailey's flash kept the Scarlet Knights defense backpedalling all day. Carter rushed for 67 yards on 22 carries. Bailey had 77 on 16 attempts and Collier added 66 on six.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
Jared Diamond
posted 11/21/09 @ 7:49 PM EST
They had 9 sacks, not 7. Come on boy. At least Taylor Dune wrote it and not Mike Ehalt
JWinthrop
posted 11/21/09 @ 8:07 PM EST
WELL ALRIGHT! Took a cue from the hoop guys and
decided to put the WHUP to the heavily-favored
Scarlet Knights!
THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, CONGRATS.
Now on to Storr and the Huskies --- LOOKOUT!
ONE IN A ROW!
genet43
Dr. T
posted 11/21/09 @ 8:26 PM EST
Great job by SU, playing hard and having fun, especially in front of all those HS recruits at the game.
Let the good times roll.
zetabeta5
posted 11/22/09 @ 9:58 PM EST
Flare passes to Bailey.....Get him outside one on one and UConn goes down...Defensive line and line backers great job....Don't forget Marrone had no line backers at start of season. (Continued…)
Post a Comment