By Mickey Furfari
MORGANTOWN — West Virginia (3-2) seeks its seventh straight victory in the football series with Syracuse (1-4) in today’s homecoming clash.
A crowd approaching 60,000 is expected to pack Mountaineer Field/Milan Puskar Stadium for the noon kickoff. Hot, sunny weather is forecast, with the temperature reaching a high of 79 degrees.
The Big East contest will be televised live on ESPNU.
Oddsmakers have installed the Mountaineers as 24-point favorites to extend their current winning streak to three. But the visiting Orange still lead the rivalry by a 30-25 margin.
Having had an extra week to prepare for this game could be an advantage of some extent to Syracuse. It last played Sept. 24 at home, losing 34-24 to rallying Pitt in a game it probably should have won.
But WVU coach Bill Stewart doesn’t think his players are taking the visitors lightly.
“I let the seniors talk to the team,” he said. “We can’t have all the oddsmakers tell everyone who should win.”
He cited Pitt’s win at No. 10-ranked South Florida and East Carolina’s upset of WVU as excellent examples of what can happen this season.
Greg Robinson, in his fourth year as Syracuse’s head coach, has an overall record of 8-32.
WVU won last year’s meeting in the Carrier Dome 55-14. It was the most points ever scored against SU in that facility.
“Syracuse looks real good on tape,” WVU defensive lineman Scooter Berry said. “They’ve got some big offensive linemen, an outstanding quarterback and two good running backs.
“Of course, I think we’re going to be OK on Saturday. We as a defense want to get pressure on the quarterback.”
Cameron Dantley, 6-foot-2, 218-pound senior quarterback, has completed 49 of 86 passes for 549 yards and two touchdowns.
He has been intercepted twice. He also has rushed 14 times for 53 yards.
Senior Curtis Brinkley is Syracuse’s leading rusher with 477 yards and three touchdowns on 84 carries. Donte Davis (14-164-1) and Mike Owen (11-102-2) are the top receivers.
WVU linebacker Mortty Ivy remembers Brinkley from high school.
“He’s a real good, hard runner,” he said. “They’ll give us their best shot.”
Patrick White will start at quarterback for the Mountaineers after having recovered from a hard hit in last week’s 24-17 win over Rutgers.
The 6-2, 192-pound senior has passed for 590 yards and nine scores on 75 of 103 attempts with just one interception. White also is second in rushing with 428 yards and two TDs on 70 carries.
Sophomore Noel Devine is the top rusher with 454 yards and a touchdown on 80 totes. Jarrett Brown, who can play three positions, shows 139 yards on 24 rushing plays.
Jock Sanders is the leading receiver with 24 catches for 189 yards and four scores. Devine has 14 receptions for 66 yards and Alric Arnett 13 for 147 and two TDs.
With Reed Williams now redshirted medically for the year, Ivy is the leading tackler with 38 and defensive back Quinton Andrews has 36.
Linebackers Mike Mele and Jake Flaherty lead Syracuse in tackles with 37 and 33, respectively.
West Virginia is off next Saturday, awaiting the Thursday night (Oct. 23) home game against Auburn. Syracuse visits South Florida seven days hence.
