SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Junior linebacker Doug Hogue broke the SU career record for tackles for loss in a game with 6.5 in Syracuse’s 31-13 win against No. 25 Rutgers (7-3, 2-3) on Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Carrier Dome. Hogue finished with seven total tackles, one forced fumble and a personal-best 3.5 sacks to lead an impressive defensive performance.
Junior free safety Mike Holmes added a career-high two interceptions, including one to thwart a late fourth-quarter drive by the Scarlet Knights. Overall, the Syracuse defense tied the school record with nine sacks and held Rutgers to 130 yards of total offense, including just 26 yards rushing. In addition to Houge, freshman E.J. Carter (2.0), junior Randy McKinnon (2.0), freshman Shamarko Thomas (1.0) and senior Andrew Lewis (0.5) had sacks for the Orange.
The win ended the Orange’s nine-game BIG EAST losing streak and stopped a four-game series losing streak to the Scarlet Knights. It also sent 15 SU seniors out with a win in their final home game. Offensively, the Orange (4-7, 1-5) rushed for 213 yards against the top rushing defense in the BIG EAST.
Syracuse had three backs tally at least 60 yards on the ground as sophomore Antwon Bailey (77 yards) senior Delone Carter (67 yards) and sophomore Averin Collier (66 yards) all topped the mark. All three players also had rushing touchdowns. In addition, Bailey was the team’s leading receiver with 47 yards on three catches to finish with 124 total yards.
Senior quarterback Greg Paulus and sophomore quarterback Ryan Nassib combined to go 17-of-22 passing for 211 yards Saturday. Paulus was 13-of-16 for 142 yards and a touchdown. Nassib was 4-of-6 through the air for 69 yards. Bailey got the Orange going early, accounting for 54 of Syracuse’s 76 yards on its first possession of the game. He capped the drive with his first touchdown run of the season, a 14-yard scamper, to give the Orange the early 7-0 lead with 10 minutes to go in the opening quarter.
On the ensuing Rutgers possession, Holmes intercepted quarterback Tom Savage third down to give the ball back to Syracuse at its own 17-yard line. Paulus and Nassib shared the duties at quarterback as the Orange marched 83 yards, including a 21-yard pass from Nassib to sophomore wide receiver Marcus Sales, to put the Orange at the Scarlet Knights’ 16-yard line. Carter finished off the drive with a five-yard run for his 10th rushing touchdown of the year and a 14-0 Orange advantage with 2:48 to play in the first quarter.
The Scarlet Knights blocked a Syracuse punt, resulting in a safety, to narrow the deficit, 14-2, early in the second quarter. However, the Orange responded on its next possession with a touchdown to extend the lead to 21-2. The drive was highlighted by a 27-yard reception from Nassib to senior wide receiver Donte Davis that set the Orange up at the Rutgers three.
Following an offside penalty against the Scarlet Knights, Paulus found sophomore tight end Carl Cutler wide open for a one-yard touchdown at the 7:35 mark of the second quarter. For Cutler, it was his first career touchdown. Orange head coach Doug Marrone attempted to put the game out of reach before halftime and decided to try an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff. The move backfired and Rutgers receiver Mohamed Sanu threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Tim Brown on a reverse on the very next play to cut the Orange margin to 21-10.
Freshman placekicker Ryan Lichtenstein tacked on a career-long 44-yard field goal with 3:11 left before halftime to put the hosts in front, 24-10. The Scarlet Knights on their final possession of the half, but Cater and Hogue combined for two consecutive sacks to force a long field-goal try. San San Te’s 46-yard attempt was no good and Syracuse entered the locker room up 14.
Syracuse went 73 yards on its last possession of the third quarter, but a blocked field goal halted drive and the Orange turned the ball over to the Scarlet Knights with 14:04 remaining in the game. Te made a 25-yard field goal on ensuing Rutgers possession to narrow the SU lead to 24-13.
The two teams took turns trading possessions before Rutgers took over desperately needing a score at the 5:45 mark. Rutgers drove deep into Orange territory, but Holmes recorded his second interception to give the ball back to the Orange. Eleven seconds later Collier# broke off a career-long 60-yard run to produce the final score and seal Marrone’s first BIG EAST win.
Brown led the Scarlet Knights’ offense with four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. He was one of just three Scarlet Knights to catch a pass Saturday as Savage managed just seven completions on 17 attempts for 66 yards. Joe Martinek paced the Rutgers ground attack with 55 yards. Ryan D’Imperio and Devin McCourty led the Rutgers defense with 14 and 11 tackles, respectively.
Syracuse returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 28. The Orange plays at Connecticut in its season finale. Kickoff is 12 p.m. and the game will be televised live on the BIG EAST network.
Courtesy: SU Athletics
