Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE AT SYRACUSE GAME NOTES
10.15.01 | Football
Tanardo Sharps led a Temple offense that gained 363 total yards versus Rutgers. The junior carried 18 times for 149 yards for his seventh career 100-yard rushing performance, including a career-long 71-yard run in the second quarter. The win was the Owls' third straight over the Scarlet Knights and fourth in the past five meetings. Freshman Mike McGann completed 10 of 23 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, a 45-yard strike to Sean Dillard and a 13-yard toss to Greg Muckerson. Muckerson caught three passes for 27 yards to extend his consecutive game reception streak to 25 games, best in the Big East. Defensively, the Owls showed why they are ranked 16th in the country in total defense. The Scarlet Knights gained only 32 yards on the ground. Rutgers' first seven possessions resulted in four punts, two interceptions and a fumble. Junior Dan Klecko had seven tackles (four solo), four tackles-for-loss, 2.5 quarterback sacks, four quarterback hurries and one fumble recovery to earn his second career Big East Conference Defensive Player of the Week Award. Junior Jairo Almonte picked off a Ryan Cubit pass in the second quarter and raced 70 yards into the end zone. It marked the first interception and first touchdown of Almonte's career. On special teams, senior Dante Coles returned two kickoffs for 80 yards, including a season best 43 yard return on the opening kickoff. Place kicker Cap Polklemba scored a career high 12 points.
Syracuse, trailing 10-7 at halftime in Pittsburgh, erupted for 35 consecutive second-half points en route to its 11th straight win over the Panthers. The Orangemen scored three touchdowns during a 6-minute, 14-second stretch of the third quarter, including a 35-yard return of an interception for a touchdown by Will Hunter. The win was Syracuse's fifth straight, its longest winning streak since 1997. James Mungro rushed for 113 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries, the 10th 100-yard game of his career. The Orange defense registered six sacks for 44 yards. Syracuse leads the Big East with 26 sacks for 197 yards in seven games.
