Syracuse Orange @ Tulane Green Wave Football Recap

Syracuse 37, Tulane 34

The bad news for the Syracuse Orange is that they refuse to make anything easy in this 2011 season, allowing inferior opponents to hang around far longer than they should. The good news in upstate New York is that, very much like last season, the Orange are winning games that would have fallen into the loss column two, three or four years ago.

In what is clearly a trend, Syracuse played a game that came down to the wire and held on for the win. This time on the road in a sparsely attended Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, the Orange – who have played two overtime games on home turf this season - withstood a rally from Tulane to leave the field with helmets held aloft in triumph. SU kicker Ross Krautman made yet another clutch field goal on the final play of regulation to give the Orange a 37-34 win. With the get-out-of-town-on-a-happy-flight escape job, the Orange improved to 4-2 on the year.

In a change for the Orange, rather than relying on the arm of quarterback Ryan Nassib, they got a solid, consistent effort from the running game. Antwon Bailey is settling into the role as primary ball carrier now, and the signs of his development were evident in this high-water mark against the Green Wave from Conference USA. Bailey carried the ball 24 times for 113 yards. In all, the Orange rushed for 170 yards, an improvement for a struggling ground game that had scuffled against the likes of Toledo, Wake Forest, and Rutgers in the first five weeks of an up-and-down regular season that made it hard to assess Syracuse’s progress or legitimacy. The Orange have won by seven points or less in all four victories. This narrow escape from Tulane’s clutches is just the latest “Cardiac Orange” episode for SU head coach Doug Marrone.

The loss was particular disappointment for the Green Wave that have desperately sought something to build a little hope for the future of the program that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The Green Wave, who have shown occasional bursts of offensive excellence this year under the watch of veteran coach Bob Toledo, rallied late to score the game tying touchdown on a 58 yard touchdown pass from Ryan Griffin to Xavier Rush. With the game tied, Tulane appeared to have stopped Syracuse and get the ball back with a chance to drive for a game-winning score, but a roughing the passer penalty kept Syracuse’s offense on the field. From that point onward, Syracuse ultimately ran out the clock and kicked the game winning field goal, a 21-yard chip shot, on the final snap of the evening. It wasn’t pretty, and it could have involved so much less drama, but that’s just not the Syracuse way in 2011.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer