SYRACUSE (AP) -- Syracuse coach Doug Marrone doesn't have much time to think about the emergence of the Orange's run game. He's already thinking about playing fifth-ranked Cincinnati.

"You look at the first two quarters of their scoring. You're talking about a team that's putting up close to 200 points in the first half," Marrone said Monday of the Bearcats, who have outscored their seven opponents 183-59 in the first half. "Now, all of a sudden you have to become somewhat one-dimensional in how you approach it. I'm not taking anything away from their defense. They do a nice job."

So, too, did the newest version of the Orange's ever-shifting offensive line in Syracuse's 28-14 home victory over Akron on Saturday. Syracuse had four new starters - Josh White and Andrew Tiller on the left side, and Adam Roster and Jonathan Meldrum, who started last season, on the right. Ryan Bartholomew was at center for the second straight game in place of injured Jim McKenzie.

Result? Delone Carter rushed for a career-high 170 yards and three TDs as the Orange (3-4, 0-2 Big East) outgained Akron 234-0 on the ground. Syracuse averaged 5.1 yards per carry to boost its season mark by a half-yard - to 3.4 per carry.

Marrone said he thought there was good chemistry with the new unit, which will remain intact for the Bearcats (7-0, 3-0).

"It (running the ball) is another way, another avenue that you have to win football games," Marrone said. "I think it's very hard to win games if you don't have it. And to be able to go and have two players start for the first time in a year on the offensive line, handle some adversity during the game and come back and fight, and Carter to run the way he did ... is something that's encouraging."

Still, Bartholomew had several errant snaps against Akron, including one that sailed over the head of quarterback Greg Paulus. Marrone said Bartholomew would get extra work this week to correct whatever flaw he has in delivering the ball cleanly when the Orange are lined up in shotgun and spread formations.

"There's a lot of little issues that go into it," Marrone said. "It is a concern."

Also on the plus side was the performance of Paulus, who finished 12 of 17 for 105 yards and one touchdown and did not commit a turnover. Paulus also picked up that errant third-quarter snap on the run and threw it away to prevent lost yardage on third down at the Akron 40. McKenzie snapped the ball over Paulus' head on the first play from scrimmage this season, and it resulted in a turnover that quickly led to a touchdown by Minnesota.

"Greg did a nice job of no interceptions, managed it very well," Marrone said. "He made some good decisions that don't get really talked about. Ball snapped over his head again, here he goes, picks it up and throws it out of bounds. He saved us X amount of yards there."

Syracuse had to alter its game plan somewhat against Akron because standout wideout Mike Williams was suspended for one game for violating team rules. Marrone said Williams will be back in the lineup against Cincinnati.

Notes: Syracuse held Akron to zero yards rushing, the best performance by the Orange since they held Florida to minus-17 yards in 1991. SU's run defense is tied for sixth in the nation at 83.43 yards allowed per game. No opposing running back has gained 100 yards in the first seven games. ... Syracuse is 15-2 on Halloween, including seven shutouts.

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