Defense leads Rutgers over Syracuse in OT

SYRACUSE -- In a game notable for bad offense, poor kicking, turnovers and great defense, Rutgers had a little more of the good stuff on defense, and kicker San San Te managed to hit a 47-yard field goal in the second overtime as the Scarlet Knights pulled out a 19-16 victory over Syracuse on Saturday at the Carrier Dome.

It was the first Big East game of the season for both teams and also one of the last in their Big East series since Syracuse recently was accepted into the Atlantic Coast Conference. But the politics of college athletics took a backseat to an old-fashioned defensive slugfest between longtime rivals that ended in the second overtime when Orange running back Antwon Bailey fumbled, just as he did on the first play from scrimmage more than four hours earlier.

Whatever pretensions Syracuse (3-2, 0-1 Big East) and Rutgers (3-1, 1-0) have of joining the ranks of the nation's college football elite, both require major improvement at the offensive skill positions. Syracuse held Rutgers to just 5 yards net rushing thanks to all the yardage lost by Knights quarterbacks Chas Dodd and Gary Nova trying to escape the Orange's blitzes while being sacked five times combined.

Rutgers lost three fumbles and an interception, and one of Te's three missed field goals was blocked. But the Knights' defense was up to the challenge of holding the fort. They recovered two Syracuse fumbles, grabbed three interceptions, including one at the goal line, and blocked a field goal.

"This was a great defensive effort," said Rutgers junior nose tackle Scott Vallone, a Central Islip native and former star at St. Anthony's. "Turnovers were big, and pressure on the quarterback was big. We had so many short fields that we had to play well."

Syracuse led from the start after an electrifying hit by Orange linebacker Dyshawn Davis on Knights running back Jawan Jamison separated him from the ball, which was scooped up by cornerback Ri'Shard Anderson and carried 66 yards for a touchdown and a 7-0 Syracuse lead. That sent a charge through a Carrier Dome crowd of 42,152. A 22-yard field goal by Te cut the deficit to 7-3 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Bailey, who carried 23 times for 124 yards, scored on a 3-yard run for a 13-3 lead. Dodd threw an interception for Rutgers and was replaced by Nova. Rutgers came back to tie it at 13 on a 33-yard field goal by Te and a 3-yard scoring pass from Nova to Mohamed Sanu with 2:09 left in regulation.

Syracuse had the ball first in overtime and drove to the Rutgers' 2-yard line, where it faced third-and-inches. Bailey, who had carried three times in the drive, was replaced by Jerome Smith, who was stopped cold by the middle of the Rutgers defensive front, forcing the Orange to settle for a 19-yard Ross Krautman field goal and a 16-13 lead.

"Our coaches called a blitz across the center's face," Vallone said, "and the linebackers filled the gaps and stopped him."

That was a good thing for Rutgers because the Knights produced only a 27-yard field goal by Te to tie the game at 16. In the second overtime, Rutgers' offense went backward 5 yards, but Te nailed the 47-yarder for a 19-16 lead. On second down of the Orange's possession, Bailey lost the handle when he was hit by Rutgers linebacker Edmond Laryea and Logan Ryan recovered to end the game.

The victory was sweet for the Knights simply because it was the conference opener. Asked if there was any talk of Syracuse leaving the Big East leading up to the game, Vallone said: "Not really. We want to win the conference this year. Besides, who says the ACC is better?"