Syracuse Kicker Misses PAT, Ending 11-Year Streak

A Syracuse streak that had lasted 11 years ended Saturday when kicker John Biskup missed an extra-point attempt in the Orangemen’s 43-3 victory over Temple.

Syracuse kickers had hit 262 consecutive PAT attempts, a National Collegiate Athletic Assn. record. They had not missed one since Dave Jacobs failed on Nov. 18, 1978 against Boston College.

Biskup, a redshirt freshman, made his first two kicks for the Orangemen but missed wide left with 1:47 remaining in the first half and Syracuse leading, 20-3.

Syracuse scored 17 seconds later when Rob Thomson returned an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Biskup tried to run for two points on that conversion attempt from kick formation but failed.

Bill Scharr, a junior, completed 14 of 20 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown and ran one yard for another score in his first start for Syracuse (1-0).

Scharr, a backup to Todd Philcox last year, said: “I made a lot of mistakes, but hopefully next game we’ll go out and do a better job.”

In his three-year high school career at Canandaigua Academy, he threw 73 touchdown passes, a state record.

“He’s a great thrower, but his throwing wasn’t great today,” Syracuse Coach Dick MacPherson said. “I think it was first-game jitters.”

Running back Michael Owens had 91 yards and a touchdown in 15 carries for the Orangemen.

Owens ran 52 yards on a pitchout to set up the Orangemen’s second touchdown, threw a 37-yard pass that set up a score, and punted for 34 yards on a third-down quick kick.

Victor Lay, who became Temple’s starting quarterback after Matt Baker separated his shoulder last week against Western Michigan, completed 10 of 23 passes for 71 yards as the Owls fell to 0-2.