If you thought that Syracuse (1-2, 0-2) and Pittsburgh (3-0, 1-0) would play a normal game, you must be new to college football.
The Orange fell behind 17-0 thanks to mistakes and penalties and could never get back over the hump as they drop their 2nd straight game.
After two strong games, the run defense and tackling faltered as Pitt ran the ball 37 times for 245 yards. Syracuse still had chances in this one but too many mistakes at inopportune times allowed the Panthers to regroup and coast to the win.
Both teams failed to do anything on their opening possessions despite getting across midfield. The Panthers got on the board first following a costly pair of 3rd down penalties extended the drive. Heintschel escaped a sack and completed a pass to get to first and goal, then La’Vell Wright punched it on 2 yards out to finish the drive.
After a terrible 3rd down pass interference call on Demetres Samuel, Fran Brown drew an unsportsmanlike contact penalty and Damon Ferguson took it 32 yards to put the Panthers up 14-0 and the rain wasn’t washing away any of the Orange misery.
Syracuse got something going after a Pitt low hit on Angeli as they finally went deep and found Hatcher for 30 yards. The drive stalled as the offensive line couldn’t hold up and then Woody badly hooked a 29 yard attempt as things went from worse to embarrassing.
Pitt had no trouble getting down field and hitting a 42 yard field goal and it was 17-0 with 8 minutes to go in the half. The Orange showed some life on the next drive as Hatcher got involved in the running and passing game. A 4th down pass interference on Pitt gave Syracuse life and Ahmad Miller ran it in to finally get the Orange on the board. Shay Barker replaced Woody on the extra point and it was 17-7.
Davien Kerr stepped in front of a Heintschel pass and the Orange were able to get the ball downfield. Once again the drive stalled as Angeli was sacked on 3rd down when the offensive line forgot to block. Barker stepped up and hit a 42 yard kick to make it 17-10 at the half.
After the Orange went 3 and out, the Pitt running game dominated and the missed tackles returned. Heintschel capped it off by juking Gary Bryant at the 10 and walking in. Syracuse’s ground game woke up as Ahmad Miller had some nice plays. As has happened too many times this week, the Orange had another good drive end in nothing. After all the runs, Syracuse got the perfect play action call, but Angeli underthrew a wide-open Hatcher in the end zone and instead of getting 7, the drive ended in a punt.
It was still 24-10 at the start of the 4th and Syracuse had the running game working getting into Pitt territory. This time Angeli threw the ball right to Raion Strader killing another scoring opportunity. The defense held but Angeli threw another interception and Pitt took over on the Syracuse 40. The Panthers added another field goal and it was Amari Odom time.
Odom got the Orange moving with some nice poise in the pocket hitting all 7 of his attempts. He took some checkdowns which Angeli had been unwilling to do and although the drive only ended in a Barker field goal, Odom certainly seems like he should be taking over after the bye.
Angeli finished the game 13 -25 for 161 yards and the 2 interceptions. Miller led the rushing attack with 14 carries for 78 yards. Hatcher had 3 receptions for 58 yards and 28 yards rushing. Heintschel was 10-23 for 123 yards and an interception.
The Orange limp into the bye week with a lot of questions and a lot of work to do to get this season back on track.
