‘Cuse Can Find No Excuse For Ot Setback At Home

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Hold that Heisman. Rein in the raves. Syracuse is, well, Syracuse.

Someday the Orangemen will get it right. Saturday was not that day. A year after they self-destructed among so many penalties and turnovers in season-opening losses to North Carolina and Minnesota, they did so again, losing 32-31 in overtime to North Carolina State at Syracuse, N.Y.

This one hurt even more, for it came only six days after a 34-0 victory over Wisconsin that had No. 13 Syracuse (1-1) flying sky-high after only one game.

“The way we lost,” said Quinton Spotwood, who had six catches for 155 yards and scored twice for Syracuse - on a 67-yard pass play to start the game and a 72-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. “Physically, we were ready. Mentally, I don’t feel like the team put it all together. I feel at times it was just the breaks. We were shooting ourselves in the foot a lot, getting penalties.”

The Wolfpack won it on a 2-point conversion attempt that seemed to catch Syracuse by surprise.

Tremayne Stephens had just scored on a 1-yard run to pull North Carolina State within a point and coach Mike O’Cain decided to go for the win. He got it when Jamie Barnette hit Torry Holt in the left corner of the end zone before Syracuse could call a timeout.

“There was no question in my mind about going for two at the end,” said O’Cain, whose job was said to be in jeopardy. “In that kind of situation, you need to choose your opportunity. Their defense was reeling and had lost its confidence.”

That was mainly because of Barnette, who completed 18 of 29 passes for 279 yards and three touchdowns and won the duel against Donovan McNabb.

McNabb looked like just another quarterback against the Wolfpack. He was just 12 for 26 for 216 yards and was unable to generate any consistency on offense.

In the overtime, McNabb came alive, though, putting Syracuse ahead quickly with an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Roland Williams on the third play. But just when the Wolfpack seemed doomed for good, Barnette scrambled for a first down on a third-and-9 play to set up Stephens’ run.

The game was won on third down. The Wolfpack, mainly thanks to Barnette’s shiftiness, converted 11 of 17 third-down chances.

“Despite how poorly we played, I felt confident that we were going to be able to win the game, get back and get everything straightened out,” Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni said. “It would have been a great win.”

Instead, it was a great win for the Wolfpack, who had won just six of their previous 22 games.

Spotwood tried his best to win it for Syracuse in regulation, setting up what appeared would be the gamewinning score with a superlative 52-yard catch between two defenders at the North Carolina State 5 with 1:07 left.

But Dee Brown, a newcomer to the Syracuse backfield who had scored his first career touchdown in the first quarter, fumbled near the goal line - on third down - with only seconds remaining.

Next for Syracuse: at Oklahoma, Saturday.

(2) Florida 21, Southern Miss 6

At Gainesville, Fla., Doug Johnson, taking over for Heisman Trophy winner Danny Wuerffel, threw for two touchdowns and ran for one and the Gators’ defense came up with three turnovers inside the 30 against the Golden Eagles.

Johnson didn’t come close to running the Fun ‘N’ Gun offense as smoothly as Wuerffel did last year, when the Gators led the nation in scoring at 46.6 points a game and were second in total offense.

For now, the defense may have to carry the load. It held Southern Miss to 157 yards, forced four turnovers and sacked Lee Roberts five times.

Next for Florida: vs. Central Michigan, Saturday.

(5) Tennessee 52, Texas Tech 17:

At Knoxville, Tenn., Peyton Manning threw for 310 yards and five touchdowns for the Volunteers.

Manning’s five TD passes tied the Tennessee single-game record last accomplished by Heath Shuler in 1993. Manning completed 26 of 38 passes, with one interception, before retiring with 4-1/2 minutes left in the third quarter.

The senior threw TDs of 23 and 11 yards to Marcus Nash, 9 yards to Jeremaine Copland, 29 yards to Andy McCullough and 5 yards to Peerless Price.

Next for Tennessee: at UCLA, Saturday.

(6) Nebraska 59, Akron 14

At Lincoln, Neb., it was a breeze for Nebraska as Scott Frost ran for 123 yards and two TDs and Ahman Green added two more scores.

The Cornhuskers, who paid Akron $450,000 to come to town, had 472 yards rushing and 644 total yards.

Next for Nebraska: vs. Central Florida, Sept. 13.

(14) Miami 45, Baylor 14

At Waco, Texas, Edgerrin James scored on runs of 23, 5 and 37 yards as the Hurricanes piled on the rushing yardage and spoiled Dave Roberts’ coaching debut for Baylor.

Tailback Dyral McMillan strained a hamstring in the first quarter, and James came in and finished with 120 yards.

Next for Miami: vs. Arizona State, Sept. 13.

(16) Alabama 42, Houston 17

At Birmingham, Ala., there were no problems, just touchdown after touchdown, as the Crimson Tide built an early 28-point lead on the way to a successful start to coach Mike DuBose’s tenure.

The second half wasn’t as easy, as Alabama committed three turnovers and allowed a 99-yard touchdown drive by the Cougars.

Alabama played without suspended tailback Dennis Riddle, but Curtis Alexander filled in well, showing why he had earned the starting role last season before injuries sidelined him.

The senior tailback finished with 88 yards rushing and 50 receiving. He scored three TDs in the first half.

Next for Alabama: at Vanderbilt, Sept. 11.