SYRACUSE - Chris Jacquemain waited for three and a half quarters for one specific play, and when it was called he executed it to perfection.
The Associated Press
Akron's Andre Jones catches a pass over Syracuse's Mike Holmes (35) for a touchdown on Saturday.
Akron's Andre Jones catches a pass over Syracuse's Mike Holmes (35) for a touchdown on Saturday.
Jacquemain hit Andre Jones on a pretty 12-yard fade in the right corner of the end zone to break a tie midway through the fourth quarter, and Akron beat struggling Syracuse 42-28 on Saturday.
For the Zips (1-1), coming off a 38-17 loss at No. 11 Wisconsin, it was only their second win over a BCS conference team - they upset North Carolina State two years ago - and its importance was written on Jacquemain's smiling face afterward.
“It's big for our team, huge for our program,” said Jacquemain, who was 20-for-26 passing for 260 yards and three TDs. “I can't say right now what it'll do for us. Hopefully, it'll get us rolling.” Akron led from the outset, building a 28-14 halftime lead behind its quick-hitting spread offense. But the Orange scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter and tied it 28-all on Cameron Dantley's 15-yard touchdown pass to Nick Provo early in the fourth.
Jacquemain then directed the decisive drive, a nearly flawless 10 plays that included five passes and five runs.
It was the first of four straight home games for the Orange (0-2), who dropped to 7-30 under coach Greg Robinson, in his fourth year and under intense pressure to turn around a program that has not had a winning season since 2001.
“This is a tough loss, very tough,” Robinson said. “We had an opportunity to win that game in the fourth quarter and we let it get away. Right now we're 0-2. Until we do (win), there's still a question (if we know how to).”
Alex Allen gained 103 yards on 21 carries and scored twice, and Dennis Kennedy had 89 yards rushing and scored once for Akron.
The Zips amassed 478 yards on offense, averaging 10 yards per pass attempt and 13 yards per completion, and converted 10 of 14 third-down plays.
Still, the Orange didn't go down quietly behind Dantley, who was 13-for-20 for 135 yards and three touchdowns in just the second start of his career.
“It's good that we had a good offensive output, one of the best in a long time,” said Dantley, who was given the nod after last year's starter, Andrew Robinson, performed poorly in the season-opening loss at Northwestern. “It just makes it hurt so much more.
“I have to be a leader for the rest of my team,” said Dantley, son of NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley and a former walk-on who only last year was given a scholarship. “We had a tough loss. Everybody's down. It's week two. We've got a whole lot of games left.”
A year ago, Syracuse ranked last in the nation with an average gain of 2 yards per carry, managing just 753 yards rushing the entire season. A main goal this season was to fix that, a source of embarrassment for a school with perhaps the greatest legacy in college football history at running back, with the likes of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, Larry Csonka and Joe Morris among the greats who played the position.
On this day, Curtis Brinkley and Delone Carter proved that that part of the Orange attack is finally intact again. Brinkley had a career-high 143 yards on 21 carries and scored once, while Carter had 77 yards on 13 carries as Syracuse gained 218 yards on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
The only problem was the Syracuse defense allowed the same yardage on the ground, and the Zips had three rushing touchdowns to one for the Orange.
Zips 42
Orange 28
For the Zips (1-1), coming off a 38-17 loss at No. 11 Wisconsin, it was only their second win over a BCS conference team - they upset North Carolina State two years ago - and its importance was written on Jacquemain's smiling face afterward.
“It's big for our team, huge for our program,” said Jacquemain, who was 20-for-26 passing for 260 yards and three TDs. “I can't say right now what it'll do for us. Hopefully, it'll get us rolling.” Akron led from the outset, building a 28-14 halftime lead behind its quick-hitting spread offense. But the Orange scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter and tied it 28-all on Cameron Dantley's 15-yard touchdown pass to Nick Provo early in the fourth.
Jacquemain then directed the decisive drive, a nearly flawless 10 plays that included five passes and five runs.
It was the first of four straight home games for the Orange (0-2), who dropped to 7-30 under coach Greg Robinson, in his fourth year and under intense pressure to turn around a program that has not had a winning season since 2001.
“This is a tough loss, very tough,” Robinson said. “We had an opportunity to win that game in the fourth quarter and we let it get away. Right now we're 0-2. Until we do (win), there's still a question (if we know how to).”
Alex Allen gained 103 yards on 21 carries and scored twice, and Dennis Kennedy had 89 yards rushing and scored once for Akron.
The Zips amassed 478 yards on offense, averaging 10 yards per pass attempt and 13 yards per completion, and converted 10 of 14 third-down plays.
Still, the Orange didn't go down quietly behind Dantley, who was 13-for-20 for 135 yards and three touchdowns in just the second start of his career.
“It's good that we had a good offensive output, one of the best in a long time,” said Dantley, who was given the nod after last year's starter, Andrew Robinson, performed poorly in the season-opening loss at Northwestern. “It just makes it hurt so much more.
“I have to be a leader for the rest of my team,” said Dantley, son of NBA Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley and a former walk-on who only last year was given a scholarship. “We had a tough loss. Everybody's down. It's week two. We've got a whole lot of games left.”
A year ago, Syracuse ranked last in the nation with an average gain of 2 yards per carry, managing just 753 yards rushing the entire season. A main goal this season was to fix that, a source of embarrassment for a school with perhaps the greatest legacy in college football history at running back, with the likes of Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little, Jim Nance, Larry Csonka and Joe Morris among the greats who played the position.
On this day, Curtis Brinkley and Delone Carter proved that that part of the Orange attack is finally intact again. Brinkley had a career-high 143 yards on 21 carries and scored once, while Carter had 77 yards on 13 carries as Syracuse gained 218 yards on the ground, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
The only problem was the Syracuse defense allowed the same yardage on the ground, and the Zips had three rushing touchdowns to one for the Orange.
Zips 42
Orange 28
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