Sunday, December 30, 2012

NCAA Football 2012: Pinstripe Bowl - West Virginia vs. Syracuse

Syracuse def. West Virginia

A snowy, churned-up field at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx didn't slow down the Syracuse offense - at least after half-time - who rolled up 38 points on a cold, dark afternoon in New York City, handing West Virginia another loss in a season that, after a 5-0 start, has seen them drop from national prominence to little more than an afterthought in the Big XII, finishing 7-6.

Once again, as has often been the theme in the second half of the season, West Virginia's defense, as porous as there has been in the nation this year, failed to put up much of a fight. The Orange rolled up 514 total yards on the day, and Dana Holgerson's WVU coaching staff have work to do in the off-season. As good as their offense has been - though it was somewhat subdued today, thanks to a masterful Syracuse defensive game plan - their defense has been ugly, even when the Mountaineers were romping to their 5-0 start.

For Syracuse, Senior QB Ryan Nassib had a difficult day in the snow, with his receivers dropping passes they would almost certainly have reeled in if the weather were sunny and dry. He completed just 50% of his passes, so it was left to RB Price-Tyson Gulley, who ran for 217 yards/2 TDs and helped in the aerial attack, grabbing 5 passes for 50 yards/1 TD. Gulley was the focal point of a ground game that netted 378 yards.

The Syracuse defense did their part, recording two safeties, one in the second quarter to stretch their lead to 5-0 and one late in the third, the last two of 23 points in that period, the death knell to West Virginia's chances.

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