PITTSBURGH – Dion Lewis entered the game Saturday with the glowing reputation and hype, but Delone Carter left Heinz Field as the more successful running back – for one game, at least.

Carter compiled 143 yards on 17 carries in Syracuse’s 37-10 loss to No. 14 Pittsburgh, outgaining Lewis, arguably the top freshman in all of college football this season. Lewis played well in his own right, finishing with 110 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Saturday marked the second time this year Carter broke through without Mike Williams in the Orange’s lineup. With Williams suspended against Akron on Oct. 24, Carter exploded for a career-high 170 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries. This time, one game after Williams quit the program, Carter again became Syracuse’s best offensive weapon.

‘Delone was very good today,’ SU head coach Doug Marrone said. ‘…I thought he was running inside and out, picking his holes. It was good to see that. That’s something in our game that we have to do to keep these games to a point where we can manage them.’

Carter played particularly well in the first half, beginning with Syracuse’s most impressive offensive moment of the afternoon. On the Orange’s second play from scrimmage, Carter found a giant hole to the left side and sprinted 58 yards virtually untouched. SU settled for a field goal to take an early 3-0 lead.

About midway through the second quarter, Carter eclipsed the 100-yard mark and never looked back. No running back had rushed for 100 yards against Pittsburgh all season.

Despite his strong performance, Carter refused to take credit because of the result of the game.

‘That’s fine, but it really doesn’t matter to me unless I win,’ Carter said of his outing. ‘All the yards and all that, it really doesn’t mean anything to me unless I get ‘W.”

Suter, Catalina out for season

Strong safety Max Suter and tight end Cody Catalina will both miss the remainder of the season because of injuries suffered during Saturday’s game, according to a statement released by SU Athletics Sunday afternoon.

Suter fractured his left radius and underwent surgery Sunday, performed by Dr. Irving Raphael. Catalina suffered a right knee surgery and will undergo surgery later this season.

Without Suter, Syracuse will likely turn to true freshman Shamarko Thomas in the secondary. Thomas started Saturday at weak side linebacker. E.J. Carter, another true freshman, becomes the favorite to take over that spot. Suter averaged 7.9 tackles per game this year.

Catalina’s injury leaves SU thin at tight end, considering Nick Provo is also out for the rest of the year. He had 13 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown this season.

Big play for Thomas… almost

Phillip Thomas thought he made his first real contribution at the collegiate level. Near the end of the third quarter, the true freshman defensive back jumped the route, intercepted Bill Stull’s pass and began running the other way.

As he made his way down the field, he saw flags flying and realized the play would not stand.

The referees hit Thomas with holding before he made the interception – one of three penalties on a crazy play that ultimately gave Pittsburgh a second life on its drive. Marrone said after the game that it looked like Thomas, playing in man-to-man coverage, did hold the receiver before Stull threw the pass.

The Panthers eventually converted on a 33-yard field goal.

‘I was so excited. I just started running to make a big play happen,’ said Thomas, who entered at safety after starter Max Suter suffered an arm injury. ‘I saw they called (holding), and I was kind of mad because that was my first career interception. I’ll just have to make another big play down the stretch.’

As Thomas ran wildly down the field, the officials threw two more flags, citing defensive tackle Art Jones for two blocks below the waist. Pittsburgh declined both penalties.

After the game, Jones laughed off his two offenses and tried to explain his sudden aggressiveness.

‘Actually, I didn’t know that you couldn’t cut,’ Jones said, laughing. ‘Offensive linemen are allowed to do it. One of the coaches didn’t know you couldn’t do it either. It’s a foolish penalty by me, and it won’t happen again.’

Suspension lifted?

Marrone said he expects to reinstate suspended players Antwon Bailey, Andrew Tiller and Torrey Ball sometime this week, but would not make an official announcement until later this week. The trio was benched Saturday for violating team rules.

All three players, along with Williams, were involved in a car accident Nov. 1 around 5:30 a.m.

jediamon@syr.edu

Published on November 8, 2009 at 12:00 pm