Post by rainman on Oct 7, 2007 6:45:04 GMT -5
Rod’s 100th win
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
SYRACUSE, N.Y.— West Virginia came up with an emphatic bounce-back Saturday at the expense of lowly Syracuse.
In extending their winning streak in this series to six games, the 13th-ranked Mountaineers crushed the Orange 55-14 before an announced crowd of 35,345 in the noisy, hot Carrier Dome.
The tremendous triumph made WVU’s record 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big East. Syracuse slid to 1-5 and 1-1.
This gave Rich Rodriguez the 100th victory of his career as a head coach. He said simply, “I didn’t gain any yards or score any points. The players deserve all the credit.”
Syracuse fans, whose team upset then-ranked Louisville 38-35 last month for its only victory, won’t soon forget this loss.
The 55 points are the most the Orange has ever given up in the Carrier Dome. WVU’s 43-0 win here in 1993 remains its worst whipping under the Big Top.
West Virginia led at every turn, 14-7 at the quarter, 31-7 at halftime and 41-14 going into the fourth period.
In the process, the Mountaineers managed a 25-11 margin in first downs, 251 yards rushing to 94, 235 yards passing to 108, and 486 yards in total offense to 202.
Free safety Ryan Mundy and nose tackle Keilen Dykes came up with key interceptions, and Boogie Allen recovered a fumble which was forced by Johnny Dingle.
In contrast to the 21-13 loss at South Florida, the Mountaineers did not commit a turnovers. They had six against the Bulls.
“I was please with the win,” Rodriguez said. “We had a good week of practice, and we were anxious to play this game.
“Those turnovers the defense forced today were very, very huge. They got everyone excited.”
For the second time in as many weeks, WVU quarterback Patrick White was shaken up and had to leave the game.
He departed with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter after gaining 27 yards on a keeper play to his 43-yard line.
Jarrett Brown took over and that drive reached the SU six-yard line before stalling. So Pat McAfee kicked a 23-yard field goal, making the score 41-7 with three minutes left in that quarter.
White, who scored one touchdown and passed for another, completed 12 of 15 attempts for 148 yards. He also finished at the game’s leading rusher with 89 yards on 14 carries.
Brown was 5-of-5 for 85 yards and Adam Bednarik 1-of-1 for two yards.
Wide receiver Darius Reynaud caught six passes for 48 yards, including White’s 20-yard touchdown toss at the start of the third period.
All-America tailback Steve Slaton was limited to just 69 yards rushing on 15 attempts, but caught four passes for 51 yards.
Fullback Owen Schmitt rushed eight times for 39 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 31 yards.
Schmitt scored the game’s first touchdown on a seven-yard run, after Mundy’s interception return to Syracuse’s 37. The other TD came on a one-yard dive with 1:50 to go in the first half.
Freshman Mike Holmes returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the West Virginia 45, and the Orange drove to a score in 10 plays. SU quarterback Andrew Robinson hit Mike Williams over the middle for 11 yards on a third-and-8 play to help set up Curtis Brinkley’s 1-yard TD run.
WVU’s defense had Robinson shaken up early. He connected on just 5 of 15 passes, and those two picks were his first after 106 plays without an interception.
“We got a hand in his face most of the day,” Rodriguez noted. “Our guys on defense have gotten a lot of confidence in what we’re doing.”
But Robinson was able to hit Mike Williams with a 61-yard pass for the Orange’s second touchdown. That came with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
Earlier, Robinson’s screen pass to Smith bounced up after a strong hit by linebacker Reed Williams and the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Dykes caught the ball in stride and rumbled into the end zone for a 21-7 lead.
“That was the longest 25 yards of my life,” said Dykes, who raced to the bench afterward for a shot of oxygen. “The defense needed to get to the ball and make plays. It pays to be in the right place at the right time.”
“The turnovers, that’s to me what got it going. It changes the perspective of the whole game,” Syracuse’s Greg Robinson said after the most lopsided loss in his three years as head coach. “Turnovers can kill you. All of a sudden, what’s a pretty darned good football game is out of reach.”
Brinkley (18-50) was the Orange’s top rusher.
Schmitt, who also quick-kicked for the first time, had 42 of the team’s 51 yards en route to his second TD.
McAfee’s field goals came from 49 and 23 yards. He also booted six extra points and Chris Glenn one.
Freshman Jock Sanders scored WVU’s final touchdown on an 11-yard run.
The Mountaineers now have an open date after playing four of the first games on the road. They resume action on Oct. 30 at home against Mississippi State.
“We need the break,” Rodriguez said. “The players will get some rest. But we’ll do a lot of fundamental work.”
“Losing is always hard, and with a score like that it’s even worse,” Syracuse defensive end Jameel McClain said. “I’m sick. I guess we did see everything they had to offer.”
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
SYRACUSE, N.Y.— West Virginia came up with an emphatic bounce-back Saturday at the expense of lowly Syracuse.
In extending their winning streak in this series to six games, the 13th-ranked Mountaineers crushed the Orange 55-14 before an announced crowd of 35,345 in the noisy, hot Carrier Dome.
The tremendous triumph made WVU’s record 5-1 overall and 1-1 in the Big East. Syracuse slid to 1-5 and 1-1.
This gave Rich Rodriguez the 100th victory of his career as a head coach. He said simply, “I didn’t gain any yards or score any points. The players deserve all the credit.”
Syracuse fans, whose team upset then-ranked Louisville 38-35 last month for its only victory, won’t soon forget this loss.
The 55 points are the most the Orange has ever given up in the Carrier Dome. WVU’s 43-0 win here in 1993 remains its worst whipping under the Big Top.
West Virginia led at every turn, 14-7 at the quarter, 31-7 at halftime and 41-14 going into the fourth period.
In the process, the Mountaineers managed a 25-11 margin in first downs, 251 yards rushing to 94, 235 yards passing to 108, and 486 yards in total offense to 202.
Free safety Ryan Mundy and nose tackle Keilen Dykes came up with key interceptions, and Boogie Allen recovered a fumble which was forced by Johnny Dingle.
In contrast to the 21-13 loss at South Florida, the Mountaineers did not commit a turnovers. They had six against the Bulls.
“I was please with the win,” Rodriguez said. “We had a good week of practice, and we were anxious to play this game.
“Those turnovers the defense forced today were very, very huge. They got everyone excited.”
For the second time in as many weeks, WVU quarterback Patrick White was shaken up and had to leave the game.
He departed with 8:14 remaining in the third quarter after gaining 27 yards on a keeper play to his 43-yard line.
Jarrett Brown took over and that drive reached the SU six-yard line before stalling. So Pat McAfee kicked a 23-yard field goal, making the score 41-7 with three minutes left in that quarter.
White, who scored one touchdown and passed for another, completed 12 of 15 attempts for 148 yards. He also finished at the game’s leading rusher with 89 yards on 14 carries.
Brown was 5-of-5 for 85 yards and Adam Bednarik 1-of-1 for two yards.
Wide receiver Darius Reynaud caught six passes for 48 yards, including White’s 20-yard touchdown toss at the start of the third period.
All-America tailback Steve Slaton was limited to just 69 yards rushing on 15 attempts, but caught four passes for 51 yards.
Fullback Owen Schmitt rushed eight times for 39 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught a pass for 31 yards.
Schmitt scored the game’s first touchdown on a seven-yard run, after Mundy’s interception return to Syracuse’s 37. The other TD came on a one-yard dive with 1:50 to go in the first half.
Freshman Mike Holmes returned the ensuing kickoff 41 yards to the West Virginia 45, and the Orange drove to a score in 10 plays. SU quarterback Andrew Robinson hit Mike Williams over the middle for 11 yards on a third-and-8 play to help set up Curtis Brinkley’s 1-yard TD run.
WVU’s defense had Robinson shaken up early. He connected on just 5 of 15 passes, and those two picks were his first after 106 plays without an interception.
“We got a hand in his face most of the day,” Rodriguez noted. “Our guys on defense have gotten a lot of confidence in what we’re doing.”
But Robinson was able to hit Mike Williams with a 61-yard pass for the Orange’s second touchdown. That came with 2:10 left in the third quarter.
Earlier, Robinson’s screen pass to Smith bounced up after a strong hit by linebacker Reed Williams and the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Dykes caught the ball in stride and rumbled into the end zone for a 21-7 lead.
“That was the longest 25 yards of my life,” said Dykes, who raced to the bench afterward for a shot of oxygen. “The defense needed to get to the ball and make plays. It pays to be in the right place at the right time.”
“The turnovers, that’s to me what got it going. It changes the perspective of the whole game,” Syracuse’s Greg Robinson said after the most lopsided loss in his three years as head coach. “Turnovers can kill you. All of a sudden, what’s a pretty darned good football game is out of reach.”
Brinkley (18-50) was the Orange’s top rusher.
Schmitt, who also quick-kicked for the first time, had 42 of the team’s 51 yards en route to his second TD.
McAfee’s field goals came from 49 and 23 yards. He also booted six extra points and Chris Glenn one.
Freshman Jock Sanders scored WVU’s final touchdown on an 11-yard run.
The Mountaineers now have an open date after playing four of the first games on the road. They resume action on Oct. 30 at home against Mississippi State.
“We need the break,” Rodriguez said. “The players will get some rest. But we’ll do a lot of fundamental work.”
“Losing is always hard, and with a score like that it’s even worse,” Syracuse defensive end Jameel McClain said. “I’m sick. I guess we did see everything they had to offer.”
