Orange drop road decision
OXFORD, Ohio(AP) Cory Jones scored his first two career touchdowns as Miami (Ohio) snapped a seven-game home losing streak with a 17-14 win over Syracuse on Saturday.
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The senior carried 12 times for 125 yards to lead the RedHawks (2-3) to their second win in six games against Big East teams.
Syracuse (1-4), coming off a 38-35 road upset of then-No. 18 Louisville, had won 14 consecutive games against Mid-American Conference teams dating back to a 22-7 loss to Bowling Green on Sept. 11, 1976. The Orange were 3-0 against the RedHawks.
The RedHawks took advantage of two Orangemen mistakes to open a 14-0 first-half lead. Miami's Craig Mester recovered a fumble at the Syracuse 40 early in the second quarter. On the next play, Mike Kokal hit Dustin Woods with a 39-yard pass, setting up Jones' 1-yard plunge.
A Syracuse offside penalty on a Miami punt allowed the RedHawks to retain possession later in the quarter, with Jones scoring on a 13-yard run.
The Orange capitalized on Joe Fields' interception, scoring on Andrew Robinson's 43-yard pass to Mike Williams in the third quarter to cut the lead in half.
After Trevor Cook increased Miami's lead to 17-7 with a 19-yard field goal with 5:18 left in the game. Robinson added a 28-yard scoring pass to Taj Smith with 4:16 left.
The Orangemen got the ball back late in the game deep in their own territory but the possession ended on downs when Miami defensive lineman Morris Council batted down a Robinson pass.
The win was the first at home for Miami since a 54-13 victory over Buffalo on Nov. 5, 2005. The RedHawks were 0-5 at home last season and lost their first game at home this year to Cincinnati.