Syracuse Orange at FSU Seminoles Preview

By Chuck Bednar  |   Friday, September 30, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

College Football
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2005 has been a difficult season thus far for the Orange, and it doesn't look to get any easier this week, as Syracuse heads to Tallahassee, Florida for a 3:30pm showdown with the sixth ranked FSU Seminoles.

The Syracuse Orange had high hopes for winning the new, watered-down Big East this season, but with a 1-2 start that includes a season-opening loss to conference rival West Virginia, those hopes appear to be in serious jeopardy. The school's offense has sputtered, with junior QB Perry Patterson averaging just 132 yards of passing per game and senior RB Damien Rhodes averaging less than three yards per carry against the Mountaineers and the Virginia Cavaliers. Yet for all of their troubles, they were very nearly 2-1, coming back from a 17-point deficit during last week's game against Virginia only to lose on a game-ending field goal. They will need big games out of Patterson and Rhodes if they hope to rebound.

Don't expect the FSU Seminoles to have any sympathy for Syracuse, and don't expect them to take this game lightly either. The Orange nearly upset FSU last season, with the 'Noles pulling out a too-close 17-13 victory. In that game, Patterson threw for more than 200 yards and a touchdown. This is a young team, but it is a talented one. Among the notable offensive stars are a pair of freshmen -- QB Drew Weatherford and WR Gregg Carr -- and sophomore WR Decody Fagg. Weatherford has completed 53 of his 99 pass attempts for 652 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions on the season. All four of his touchdowns have been hauled in by Carr, a big-play threat who averages 23 yards per reception, while Fagg leads the team in receiving yardage with 186. The Seminoles have won four of the last five meetings between the two schools.
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