Call it controlled confusion.

Freshman quarterbacks like Rhode Island’s Jayson Davis aren’t supposed to know what they’re doing. And for much of the first half, Davis appeared boggled by the Rams’ playbook. He routinely started running one way, only to pivot and lead the entire Rams’ backfield in the other direction.

But by the end of the first half, it seemed that the only ones baffled were the Syracuse defenders.

“It really was a surprise,” SU defensive back Will Hunter said. “The speed of their offense brought an aspect of us not knowing what was going on. He was doing stuff like faking the option and dropping back.”

Davis’ acting led the Rams to 17 first-half points and 332 yards of first-half offense. Davis completed a pair of 30-yard spirals, including a third-and-19 where he acted like he was going to run up the middle, then drifted back and hit wide receiver Curtis Horne for 32 yards.

“He’s a player,” URI coach Tim Stowers said. “He’s going to go out there and make things happen.”

Davis won the starting job in the preseason, beating out sophomore Ray Barker and redshirt-freshman Jordan Bowers. Although the terminology in the system is new, Davis is no stranger to the option.

In high school, Davis was a four-year letter winner at Tottenville and ran a similar system to Stowers’ triple option.

“He picked it up a lot faster than I’ve ever seen anyone do it,” said running back Jason Ham, who led Rhode Island with 103 yards rushing.

Still, Stowers said he’s shrunk his playbook this year to lessen Davis’ adjustment.

Unfortunately for the Rams, Davis injured his shoulder while absorbing a hit last week against Hofstra. Late in the first half, he reaggravated it, forcing him from the game. Stowers said the injury was minor and most likely “just a stunner.”

Without Davis, Rhode Island’s offense stagnated. Barker was ineffective, fumbling two snaps and leading the Rams to only 113 second-half yards.

“Losing him was a big part of that,” Ham said. “I don’t want to say we don’t have chemistry with Ray, but Jayson’s a playmaker. He would have made a few big plays. He’s going to be good for a while.”

Pataki cancels

New York Gov. George E. Pataki was slated to speak before the game but instead had to travel to suburban Buffalo, where a terrorist cell was discovered.

“We had him scripted in the pregame,” Syracuse Director of Athletics Jake Crouthamel said.

Crouthamel said Pataki called around 10 p.m. Friday to cancel his plans.

Pataki called Crouthamel during the middle of last week, expressing his desire to appear at the Carrier Dome. Last Sept. 22, Pataki appeared at the Dome before an SU game against Auburn and delivered a rousing post-Sept. 11 speech.

“We just went back to our original schedule for the pregame,” Crouthamel said.

This and that

Defensive end Josh Thomas sat out with an injured left foot. Defensive tackle Christian Ferrara also was sidelined with a knee injury. Syracuse head coach Paul Pasqualoni said both players would be re-evaluated this week. … Linebacker Cory Brooks dislocated his shoulder during the game. … Syracuse made 6,200 tickets available to soldiers from nearby Fort Drum.

Published on September 16, 2002 at 12:00 pm