Mistakes Prevent Syracuse, a 24-20 Loser, From Upsetting Penn State

Quarterback John Shaffer scored one touchdown and came back from a blow that sidelined him to pass for the game-winner with 1:53 to play as Penn State escaped with a 24-20 victory over mistake-prone Syracuse Saturday.

“Our kids have a lot of guts, and they came back when they had to,” said Coach Joe Paterno, who notched his 15th consecutive victory and sixth straight this season.

The sixth-ranked Nittany Lions scored their decisive touchdown following a short drive after Syracuse fumbled in the last five minutes, when possession would have meant a victory.

“We were fortunate to get the ball,” Paterno said. “The Syracuse kids played their hearts out. It’s tough to lose like that.”

Coach Dick MacPherson said: “We showed character. . . . I don’t believe Penn State has us jinxed. They just did what they had to do to beat us.”

Syracuse (2-3) lost three fumbles and had one pass intercepted.

Penn State, which has won its six games by a total of 24 points and none by more than seven, was outplayed on the line of scrimmage. The Orangemen outgained Penn State in total offense, 304 yards to 231.

But the Lions had to drive only 19, 26 and 43 yards for their three touchdowns because of long kick returns by Jim Coates and Michael Timpson and the Syracuse fumble.

Coates ran 78 yards with the opening kickoff, and Timpson took a Syracuse punt back 48 yards.

“Without the two big returns, it would have been a whole different ballgame,” said tailback D.J. Dozier, who was held to 57 yards in 16 carries.

Penn State fullback Steve Smith scored on a five-yard run in the first quarter, and Shaffer scored on a one-yard keeper in the second for a 14-0 lead.

The Orangemen scored 17 points in the second half behind sophomore quarterback Don McPherson, who scrambled 26 yards for one score and passed 44 yards to Mike Siano for another as Syracuse took a 20-17 lead with 10:19 to play.

Syracuse stopped the next Penn State drive and appeared to be on the way to an upset nearly as big as last season’s 17-9 victory over then top-ranked Nebraska.

But Orange fullback Roland Grimes fumbled, and Nittany Lion defensive end Don Graham, who had two sacks and forced another fumble, pounced on the ball at the 43.

Six plays later, Shaffer threw eight yards to fullback David Clark for the winning touchdown.

The drive started with Dozier, who is recovering from a leg injury, gaining 14 yards. Other key plays included a 13-yard pass from Shaffer to Darrell Giles and an eight-yard pass to tight end Dean DiMidio.

It was Penn State’s 15th consecutive win over Syracuse. The Orangemen last won, 24-7, in 1970.