Sept. 27, 2003

Box Score| Quotes| Notes

From AP and UT staff reports

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Sophomore Bruce Gradkowski threw for 255 yards but Toledo could only score once in a 34-7 loss at Syracuse on Saturday.

The Rockets had trouble containing Syracuse's Walter Reyes, who ran for 162 yards on 17 carries and scored on runs of 61 and 43 yards.

The Rockets (3-2) failed in their attempt to defeat Big East opponents in consecutive weeks. Toledo stunned then-No. 9 Pittsburgh 35-31 last week.

Reyes, who began the game leading the nation with 173 yards and 16.67 points per game, has 681 yards on 92 carries and 10 touchdowns, all rushing. He has rushed for at least one touchdown in nine straight games and has 28 rushing TDs in his career. That ties him with Ernie Davis and Dee Brown for third place on Syracuse's career list. Floyd Little set the record of 35 from 1964-66.

Gradkowski was 31-for-50 for 255 yards and one score and was intercepted once. Junior wide receiver Lance Moore caught 11 passes for 114 yards and one TD.

Syracuse scored on its first two possessions, with Reyes doing the bulk of the work. Reyes gained 24 yards rushing and another nine yards on a screen pass to set up Collin Barber's 30-yard field goal.

After the Rockets went three-and-out, Reyes burst 61 yards through a big hole in the middle of the Toledo line, outrunning two defenders to the right corner of the end zone to give the Orangemen a 10-0 lead with 6:50 left in the opening quarter.

Gradkowski then drove the Rockets to the Syracuse 29 with a nice mix of passes and runs. But on a fourth-and-4 play, defensive tackle Christian Ferrara was not fooled by a screen pass from Gradkowski to Trinity Dawson and tackled him for a 4-yard loss.

Reyes quickly made the Rockets regret the gamble, scoring on a 43-yard run on a fourth-and-1 play for a 17-0 lead just three plays into the second quarter.

Syracuse drove 80 yards in 14 plays before halftime to make it 24-0. Wide receiver Jared Jones began the drive by going 16 yards on a reverse, then made a diving 10-yard catch at the Toledo 3. The drive threatened to stall after quarterback R.J. Anderson fumbled on a keeper on the next play, but Kevin Sampson recovered for Syracuse.

Three plays later, Anderson hit Lenny Cusumano for a 2-yard touchdown on a tight end throwback play on fourth down.

Barber added a 36-yard field goal with 5:02 left in the third quarter before Gradkowski found a wide-open Lance Moore down the left side for a 35-yard score with 54 seconds left in the period.

Toledo is off next Saturday, then returns home on Oct. 11 when it hosts Eastern Michigan for Homecoming.