Syracuse defense misses out on 3 interceptions, allows 2 big plays in loss to Maryland
Spencer Bodian | Staff Photographer
Syracuse safety Darius Kelly missed out on a would-be interception during Syracuse's loss to Maryland on Saturday. Nose tackle Eric Crume and cornerback Brandon Reddish also failed to haul in interceptions.
The Syracuse secondary yielded two lengthy, game-changing plays — and couldn’t create any of its own.
Potential momentum-changers presented themselves in the form of three errant passes, but the Orange couldn’t haul in any of them in its 34-20 loss to Maryland in the Carrier Dome on Saturday. SU held the Terrapins’ receivers to two receptions longer than 30 yards, but they were pivotal.
“I never felt like we gave ourselves a push in momentum throughout the course of the game to get on track,” head coach Scott Shafer said.
The Terrapins’ first score of the day came on a well-placed 25-yard pass to the back of the end zone by quarterback C.J. Brown to receiver Marcus Leak, who beat SU cornerback Julian Whigham on a straight go route.
UMD’s second touchdown came on a bubble screen from its own 10-yard line. A hole formed for Brandon Ross to shoot past four SU defenders and he took it 90 yards to the house.
“I saw it developing,” safety Darius Kelly said. “The receivers did some blocking downfield, a good job of chopping us down and they got a play on us.”
With Maryland ahead 14-13 early in the second quarter, Brown aired out a pass down the left sideline for Leak, who ran another go route with SU cornerback Brandon Reddish blanketing him.
Reddish had his hands on the ball first, but Leak took a step infield before the pass came down and ripped it from Reddish’s grasp as the two tumbled to the turf at SU’s 17-yard line, a 46-yard pickup.
The SU senior threw his hands around in frustration as Leak popped up pounding his chest.
“It kind of haunts you for the rest of the game until the next time you get an opportunity,” Kelly said. “It makes us hungry to get the next one.”
Kelly himself missed out on a pick, running downfield with his back to the line of scrimmage and an overthrown pass tipped his outstretched hands.
Another chance for an interception eluded the Orange when, on Maryland’s next drive, SU nose tackle Eric Crume, running out toward the left flat, let a pass straight to him fall through his hands and incomplete.
Said linebacker Cameron Lynch: “I just tell them they owe me one. They owe the team one and I think they’ll get them.”
Published on September 22, 2014 at 12:10 am
Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb
