The Syracuse Orange lost their third straight game on Friday night since what seemed like a season changing win over West Virginia three weeks ago. South Florida provided a much more unfriendly Friday night Dome opponent, as B.J. Daniels ran for 117 yards and a touchdown to help beat Syracuse 37-17. The Orange missed another chance to earn a bowl berth with a win, and now have just two games left to pull of a sixth victory.
Ryan Nassib was 23 of 46 passing for 297 yards and 2 touchdowns, but the offense saw far too many missed opportunities. Davis Stevens and Alec Lemon missed playable balls in the endzone late in the forth quarter, as South Florida poured on their offense in the late stages. Besides Daniels 117 yards on the ground, Demetris Murray also scored on two short runs for the Bulls first win in five tries.
The following is a game recap from SU Athletics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Ryan Nassib set the new mark for completions in a single-season with 217, but the Orange suffered a 37-17 loss to USF at the Carrier Dome on Friday night. The Bulls improved its overall record to 5-4 and recorded its first win in BIG EAST play this season. Syracuse is now 5-5 and 1-4 in conference action.
Nassib was 23-of-46 for 297 yards and threw two touchdown passes. Nassib broke his previous record of completions in a season which he set last year with 202. Junior wide receiver Alec Lemon set a new career-high with 179 receiving yards on 10 catches against the Bulls. This was his second straight game with over 150 yards receiving. Lemon caught a 10-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter and a 58-yard score with 3:41 remaining in the game. The 58-yard touchdown strike was the longest catch of his career.
USF had three different players rush for touchdowns and redshirt junior kicker Maikon Bonani had three field goals on the night.
On their first possession of the game, the visiting Bulls started on the Syracuse 40-yard line after an 11-yard punt by freshman punter Jonathan Fisher. USF drove to the Syracuse 12-yard line, but was held to a field goal. Bonani converted from 29 yards out to give the Bulls a 3-0 lead.
USF opened the second quarter by marching 62 yards in nine plays for the first touchdown of the game. Sophomore running back Marcus Shaw rushed up the middle for a three-yard touchdown.
After the Bulls touchdown, the teams exchanged possessions until Syracuse got on the board. Syracuse drove 52 yards in five plays to cut USF's lead to 10-7. Nassib had two 20-yard completions in the drive and capped it off with a 10-yard touchdown strike to Lemon.
The ensuing Shane Raupers kickoff went out-of-bounds, giving the Bulls the ball on their own 40-yard line. USF quarterback B.J. Daniels hit freshman wide receiver Andre Davis for a 43-yard completion on their first play of the drive, and on the very next play, Daniels rushed for a two yard touchdown to give the Bulls a 17-7 lead.
Syracuse responded with a 28-yard field goal by sophomore Ross Krautman. With Krautman's kick, the Orange trimmed the USF lead to 17-10 with 1:21 remaining in the quarter.
The Bulls ended the half with a 46-yard field goal by Bonani to extend their lead to 20-10.
Out of the halftime intermission, USF drove down to the Syracuse 18-yard line. For the second time in the game, the Orange held the Bulls to three points as Bonani made his third field of the game from 35 yards out.
Midway through the third quarter it appeared that USF would score their third touchdown of the game. Bulls junior wide receiver Victor Marc hauled in a 33-yard reception, but as Marc dove for the end zone, he fumbled and the ball went out the back of the end zone, resulting in a touchback and a change of possession.
Syracuse then drove down to the USF three yard line on the following possession. After an incompletion on third down and goal, Syracuse elected to go for it on fourth down. Nassib's pass for sophomore tight end Beckett Wales, fell incomplete and USF took over on downs.
Syracuse forced a USF punt, then drove down to the USF 12-yard line. For the second straight time, Syracuse elected to go for the first down on fourth down but once again did not convert.
With the score 30-10, Nassib connected with Lemon for the 58-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 13 with 3:41 remaining. The Bulls though, would respond with a touchdown of their own for the final score of the night.
Syracuse is off next weekend before hosting the first place Cincinnati Bearcats on November 26th.
