12A - The Michigan Daily - Thursday. September 30, 1999 raem s stingy defense makes Sf offensive production After making bhings difficult for Michigan two weeks ago, the 'Syracuse defense has led the Orangemen to a No. 22 ranking. LOUIS BROWN/Daily - SYRACUSE, N.Y. - After Syracuse won its third game of the season, strong safety Ian Metntosh paused and shared a lament proba- bly considered by many. "I wish we had this defense last year because we had a powerful offense," McIntosh said Saturday after Syracuse beat West Virginia 30-7 in the Big East opener for both teams. "The defense is the bulwark. But we knew going into the season that the defense was the strong point of the team." A vear after Donovan McNabb and the offense set several school records, scoring 60 or more points in three games, it is the defense that is carrying Syracuse (3-1), which has moved into the national rankings (No. 19 ESPN/USA Today, No. 22 AP). "All we tell the offense to do is just give us a little cushion to work with and there really isn't too much that can happen," McIntosh said. He notched his second and third interceptions of the season, return- ing the last one 48 yards for the Orangemen's final touchdown in the waning moments of the game a 'ainst th Mountaineers (1-3). We talk al 'thetime about possi- bIy bei thle best defense in the Big Eat McIntosh said. "We want to be the best defense in the nation." Syracuse still hasn't found a sin- gle replacement for McNabb and probably won't this year. It remains a two-man rotation with redshirt freshman Troy Nunes and sopho- more Madei Williams alternating quarterbacking duties for the Orangemen. Nunes sparked the Orangemen against the Mountaineers in the second quarter, scoring on a 24- yard option keeper, then hitting Pat Woodcock with a 22-yard touch- down pass with 13 seconds remain- ing in the half after a costly fumble by West Virginia tailback Avon Cobourne. The touchdowns gave Syracuse a 17-7 halftime lead. "What we've learned after four games is that you've got two tremendously unselfish men, two guys that are interested in team success first and individual honors second," offensive coordinator George DeLeone said. "I think you've got two guys that can provide us a spark maybe in different days. The nice thing about today? Troy came in and gave us a spark. Last week, Madei came in and gave us a spark. That's why you use two quarterbacks - one guy picks the other guy up. I just like the way the two guys are handling it." Despite Nunes' heroics, the key play of the game was made by the defense. It came after a scoreless third quarter as the Mountaineers, trailing 17-7, were poised to score. After an eight-minute drive, West Virginia had a first-and-goal at the Syracuse three, and Cobourne got the call. But as the freshman seemed about to atone for his earlier mis- take, he made another, fumbling at the goal line when Clifton Smith stuck his helmet on the ball. When lineman Duke Pettijohn scooped up the ball and returned it to the 39 yard-line, the Mountaineers wilted. "That was huge," Pettijohn said. "They were about to score. They had a lot of momentum and that took the air out. After that play, I think they gave up." For Smith, it was a banner day He became the first freshman start on either offense or defense coach Paul Pasqualoni's nine year. as head coach. "Just to come up with that play,'' felt very good," Smith said. "I ss' fortunate to have that opportunity" West Virginia scored all of its points in the first half - on two safeties and a 23-yard field goal by Jay Taylor. When fifth-year senior quarter- back Marc Bulger, the key to t West Virginia offense, was unab to play in the second half because of an injury to his throwing hand, the Mountaineers knew they were in trouble. Bulger, 9-of-14 for 85 yards,-was' replaced by sophomore Bra- Lewis, who had thrown just two passes in the first three games. Lewis finished with 8-of-14 pas- ing for 64 yards but also had'ts. interceptions. "We certainly aren't very lucky," West Virginia coach Don Nehl i said. "We push that touchdown in, we have the momentum going and everything. Just unbelievable." When your plate isfull butyour soul isn t. Compui Chapel miniasrie www.campuschapel.org The Princeton Review is taking enrollments. Call us about our April MCAT courses and our Verbal Accelerator Program. Enroll by October 15th for any April MCAT course and get $100 off! THE PRINCETON REVIEW 1-800-2REVIEW Texas Tech's Williams out for rest of season' LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Texas he felt the knee give out and ,was,, Tech star running back Ricky helped off the field. Williams aggravated his sprained He did not play in Tech's 3-17 left knee during practice this week victory over Louisiana-Lafayette,,. or and will not return this season, coach the team's stunning 21-14 loss to, Spike Dykes said yesterday. North Texas last weekend. Williams had missed the team's Dykes has said that even last two games after injuring the Williams were to miss several games knee in the season opener against this season, the running back could Arizona State and Dykes had listed still stay on track to take the all-ime the running back as a "maybe" for rushing title from Texas' Rcky Saturday's contest against Texas Williams. A&M (No. 6 ESPN/USA Today; No. "He can always be given a medical 5 AP). redshirt if he is out more than afew But in practice Tuesday, Williams games," Dykes said after Williams aggravated the injury while running missed his first game. "He'll still in a no-contact exercise. retain the same amount of eligibility Tech doctors said surgery would so if he wants to pursue an all-ti be scheduled for Williams later this rushing title or whatever, he can week. Team personnel would not say that." whether the knee sprain will end the Tech was hoping Williams might junior's career. be able to save the team from what "It's gut wrenching, no doubt," could be a disastrous season because Dykes said. "The worst thing about of the Big 12 Conference's many athletics is injuries, because these ranked teams. kids put their whole life into it and it Now Tech will have to replace a' can be taken away in an instant. It crucial part of its offense, which was, breaks my heart to see something built almost entirely around like that happen to good people." Williams. Before the initial injury, Williams "It's probably going to be like had played every game at Tech (2-1) we've done it in the past," said run- the past two seasons, rushing for ning back coach Jack Tayrien. "We'll 1,582 yards and 13 touchdowns last play it by committee and go witthe year. hot hand." He also was on pace to eclipse the Texas Tech's prospects for this all-time rushing record held by weekend don't look good, as Texas Texas' former running back of the A&M is one of the top teams in th same name. nation. Williams injured his knee when Texas A&M has the nation's toll the ASU defense collapsed the Tech raked defense and has allowed just offensive line on top of him during 68 yards and one touchdown agai* the Red Raiders' game on Sept. 6. Louisiana Tech, Tulsa and Southeri He simply bandaged his left knee Mississippi. Tech must also contend and returned to play minutes later. with Texas and Oklahoma this sea' In the second half, he told trainers son. McGwire takes lead in home run race ST. LOUIS (AP) - Mark McGwire pitch well over the wall as the ba1 is back on top in the home run derby cleared an area of shrubbery just for the first time in more than a beneath the backdrop. month, just in time for a final week- Only a few thousand fans were end showdown with Sammy Sosa. watching when McGwire toppel McGwire hit his 62nd and 63rd Roger Maris' record for the second home runs last night in the St. Louis straight year. It was a huge contrast Cardinals' 4-3, 6-5 sweep of the San from the electric atmosphere of Sept. Diego Padres, moving one ahead of 8, 1998, when the Maris family Sosa. on hand and flashbulbs never stop McGwire hadn't been ahead since popping as McGwire bashed his way leading 48-47 on Aug. 18 and trailed into the record book for the first time. by as many as five homers at one Wednesday's opener had a spars point but has homered in each of the crowd because it was rescheduled tp last four games. Last season, he make up for Tuesday night's rainout. closed with five homers in the final "That part of the atmosphere' was three games to beat Sosa 70-66. missing, but the rest of it wasn't," The Cardinals won the opener on manager Tony La Russa said. "It wss Thomas Howard's two-run single in a major league game with a goo the seventh and rallied from a five-run pitcher on the mound trying to get i deficit in the second game. Fernando out. Enjoy the moment. Why compare Tatis added a solo shot in the sixth to and try to take something away fro' tie it and he doubled and scored on it?" Placido Polanco's bases-loaded field- McGwire hit a three-run homer off er's choice for a 6-5 victory in the Andy Ashby, who surrendered Nos. 10th. 500 and 501 on Aug. 5 in St. Louis, i Tony Gwynn was 7-for-8 in the the sixth inning of the secoame. The doubleheader with two RBIs, raising 467-foot shot also easily cleared the his average seven points to .339. He center-field wall and landed beyond left to a standing ovation after singling the shrubbery. in the eighth inning of the second McGwire also figured in the key hit game. in the first game. Donne Wall () McGwire has 520 homers, one intentionally walked him to load . behind Ted Williams and Willie bases in the seventh, and Thoms McCovey for 10th place on the pareer Howard followed with a two-run sirs- list. McGwire also leads the NL with gle for a 4-3 lead as the Cardinals 145 RBIs, two shy of last's total. ended a five-game losing streak. He tied Sosa in the fourth inning of Darren Oliver (9-9) allowed three the opener with a two-run homer off runs and five hits in eight innings, and Matt Clement to center that traveled Lance Painter finished, for his first an estimated 462 feet. He sent a 1-0 save of the year.