SYRACUSE - Syracuse's annual spring scrimmage on Saturday seemed to end just when it began to get interesting.

Chalk it up to the injury bug.

With tailbacks Delone Carter and Curtis Brinkley limited to non-contact plays, freshman tailback Averin Collier recovering from a fractured foot, star defensive tackle Arthur Jones nursing a nasty cold, and four other players recovering from an assortment of ailments, the Orange ran only 37 plays.

“We were kind of limited with the running back situation and all that kind of stuff as far as the line of scrimmage goes,” said junior quarterback Andrew Robinson, who split duty with Cameron Dantley and redshirt freshmen Cody Catalina and David Legree. “We've worked hard this whole spring. We had a lot of guys rotating in there, so we got a lot of work done. It was worthwhile.”

Carter is recovering from a dislocated hip suffered in spring practice last year. Brinkley broke a leg in late October and sat out the final four games of 2007. Both practiced in non-contact drills this spring, and both are itching to do some hitting.

“He just wants to run, run, run all day,” sophomore defensive tackle Bud Tribbey said of Carter. “Today, he'd run 100 yards if he could. I think he's getting back in the mix. Even when we had to lay our paws off him, he tried to come hit us.”

The light scrimmage was scripted by head coach Greg Robinson as he ponders the start of his fourth - and very critical - season at Syracuse.

“I just felt it was best for our team,” said Robinson, who has a 7-28 record at Syracuse that includes two 10-loss seasons, the only ones in school history. “We've doubled the number of reps in live scrimmaging this spring, and I think it's been very good for us as a team.”

For the record, despite allowing four sacks, the offense won 20-13, compliments of Legree's 4-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman tight end Nick Provo. That was a positive sign because the Orange goes into next season with two converted defensive players as its top two tight ends - former defensive end Mike Owen and former linebacker Ben Maljovec.

Dantley had the best throw of the day, a picture-perfect, 50-yard TD pass down the middle to Mike Williams, who caught the ball in stride at the goal line to keep his impressive scoring streak intact - sort of.

“Plays are quick and simple,” said Williams, who has caught at least one TD pass in nine straight games, the top mark in the Football Bowl Subdivision entering 2008. “You come into the huddle and you're back out there. Last year, we had to really think when we ran out of the huddle. It's easier this year. I can't wait until camp.”

New offensive coordinator Mitch Browning, who has simplified the play book in an effort to improve Andrew Robinson's health - Robinson suffered the brunt of the 54 sacks the Orange allowed in 2007 - was happy when the short day was done.

“We came out healthy. That was big,” Browning said. “It's been a tough, physical spring, but for the most part we've got our entire offense installed, and when we come back in August it won't be foreign to them anymore.”

“I feel like we got more chemistry,” said Carter, who led the Orange in rushing in 2006 (713 yards) as a freshman. “We've got a lot of young players playing, giving to the team. I just feel like we're an all-around better team. We're going to surprise a lot of people this year.”

Former Orange star David Tyree, one of the heroes of the New York Giants' Super Bowl victory over New England in February, attended the scrimmage and blended right in. He was on crutches and wearing a big brace on his right leg after recent knee surgery.

Athletic director Daryl Gross invited Tyree to speak to the team. “If they look at what we did, they can come together, unite and have a great season,” he said.