PITTSBURGH — Syracuse lost its starting quarterback and the team had showed no semblance of a running game. And yet with under a minute left, the Orange was driving for a game-tying field goal.

At the Pittsburgh 45-yard line, backup quarterback Cameron Dantley dropped back to pass looking for one final completion to bring the team within field goal range. Instead a three-man rush brought him to the ground.

Syracuse managed to stay competitive against the only other Big East rival with a losing record until the same troubles that had plagued the Orange all season resulted in another defeat.

Syracuse lost to Pittsburgh, 20-17, at Heinz Field on Saturday afternoon and the defeat meant the Orange would not play in a bowl game for its third consecutive season. As Robinson, the third-year head coach, strives for his first-ever season with multiple Big East wins, Syracuse faces its final three games against foes with a combined record of 19-5 entering Saturday.

In spite of some miserable offensive stats and a back injury that forced Andrew Robinson out of the game at halftime, the Orange still had a chance to pull out a win in the closing minute.

The blown final opportunity might be what stings the most about the loss.

‘We had a chance to win a football game,’ Greg Robinson said. ‘And doggone it if we do a few things a little bit better-we win.’

Dantley drove the team into Pittsburgh territory with less than 30 seconds remaining. But any hopes of reaching field goal range were ruined on the next play. With a 2nd-and-1, Greg Romeus sacked Dantley – the fourth time in the half he was brought down.

With nine seconds remaining, the junior quarterback could not connect with Mike Williams on a fourth-down desperation heave, and the Panthers had staved off a comeback.

While Dantley offered a spark that looked awful in the first half, the defense ultimately permitted the Orange to keep the game close. The SU running game particularly was woeful. Syracuse rushed the ball 30 times for 31 yards, and first-time starter Doug Hogue scampered to a pitiful eight yards on 10 carries. On third downs, the Orange finished 2-for-16. The oft-maligned offensive line allowed six sacks.

‘Sacks are ultimately a lost yardage play,’ said guard Ryan Durand. ‘No matter what happens or what the situation is, it’s the fastest way to kill a drive.’

Still, the defense keyed a rally and gave the offense its final gasp to try to force overtime. After a Williams touchdown cut the Pitt lead to three, the Orange failed to recover an onside kick. The defense took the field with under two minutes left, two timeouts left and desperate for a quick stop.

On 4th-and-1, SU lineman Arthur Jones hit freshman running back LeSean McCoy for a loss. The star halfback tallied 143 yards, but the defensive line came through in the most crucial situations. In the first quarter, McCoy was stopped on a 4th-and-1 at the goalline.

‘That’s the defensive mentality if the game comes down to the line we want it on our shoulders,’ said defensive captain Jameel McClain.

The defense also shutdown freshman quarterback Pat Bostick to keep the Panthers’ margin tight, forcing numerous ill-advised passes and sacking him twice. The SU defenders managed to keep Pitt’s offensive stats on par with the Orange’s offense.Two excellent returns by the Pittsburgh special teams gave the Panthers the lead it barely held on to in the final minute.

A 64-yard kick return and a 53-yard punt return set up the two Pittsburgh touchdowns.

Dantley offered enough of a spark for the Orange, finishing 15-of-27 for 189 yards and two touchdowns, replacing Robinson who re-aggravated a back muscle injury he suffered during the week in the weight room. Dantley seemed poised in the pocket even while taking the hits.

Nevertheless, Syracuse could not take advantage of a winnable situation and the Greg Robinson era suffered another Big East loss.

‘On the last drive, a field goal wasn’t even on my mind,’ said wide receiver Taj Smith. ‘I was looking to go down, get a touchdown and win the game. That’s how I approach every drive, like I’m going to do whatever it takes to get us in the end zone. It didn’t work out.’

Published on November 2, 2007 at 12:00 pm