Syracuse Leaves Colorado Kicking Self : Fiesta: Buffaloes’ missed extra points, field goal combine with Dar Dar’s long runback in a 26-22 victory by the Orangemen.

The way Colorado’s kicking game had been going in Friday’s IBM OS/2 Fiesta Bowl, no one expected the ball to make it over the goal line. But on this kickoff, Qadry Ismail looked up to see the ball sailing toward him, a yard deep in the Syracuse end zone.

Ismail took the kickoff and gave it to Kirby Dar Dar, who scored on a reverse to end any hope the Buffaloes had of winning. Syracuse won, 26-22, and is unbeaten in its last six bowl appearances.

The game started slowly and then turned exciting, with a third-quarter scoring binge and an opportunity to watch the impact that kicking and punting can have on a game.

The lot of kickers and punters is often one of obscurity. Not so for Colorado’s Mitch Berger after Friday’s game.

Buffalo Coach Bill McCartney pointed a finger squarely at Berger and his short kickoffs, missed 23-yard field goal and two missed extra points.

McCartney didn’t do the math, but it was easy to figure. The five points Berger could have scored would have won the game.

“We butchered the kicking game and it cost us,” McCartney said. “We miss two extra points, we miss a chip shot field goal and at the end of the game they were expecting an on-sides kick and we kick it to the five-yard line.”

Berger didn’t please his coach on the long kickoff to Ismail, either. Ismail had been silent most of the game and chose that moment, as time expired in the third quarter, to speak up. He took the kickoff one yard deep in the end zone and ran out to the 11, where he handed the ball to Dar Dar, who shook off one tackle and went for a touchdown.

The play broke the back of the Buffaloes’ attempt to come back. And it nearly broke McCartney’s patience. A replay seemed to show at least three illegal blocks by Dar Dar’s teammates.

“Our guys were hit right in the back,” McCartney said. “And the officials didn’t call it.”

Predictably, Syracuse Coach Paul Pasqualoni said he didn’t see any infractions.

The sixth-ranked Orangemen (10-2) succeeded where 10th-ranked Colorado (9-2-1) failed. On a sandy field with unsure footing, Syracuse’s John Biskup kicked field goals of 46 and 34 yards and was unerring on extra points.

Pasqualoni praised Biskup, who has been playing well all year, and downplayed the poor field conditions, which McCartney said made the difference in his team’s kicking.

Colorado led at halftime, 7-6. But in the final 6:22 of the third quarter, 29 points were scored on four touchdowns and a field goal.

Syracuse started the scoring when halfback David Walker went up the middle for a 13-yard touchdown. That gave the Orangemen a 12-7 lead, and they went for a two-point conversion. Walker took the quick snap and rolled right to pass. His wobbly throw ended up in the hands of Colorado’s Sam Rogers.

The Buffaloes came back with their first sustained drive of the second half. The eight-play, 59-yard drive resulted in a 38-yard field goal by Berger, who made the kick despite slipping in the sand in the middle of the field.

Marvin Graves extended the Syracuse lead with 1:37 to play in the quarter, scrambling 28 yards for a touchdown and a 19-10 lead.

Colorado tailback James Hill gained 61 yards on a run later in the quarter--exceeding the Buffaloes’ rushing yardage to that point--to fuel a scoring drive.

Buffalo quarterback Kordell Stewart lofted a pass to wingback Michael Westbrook, who caught the ball with his right foot in the end zone. An official called the pass incomplete.

But Colorado got its touchdown two plays later. Charles Johnson caught a short pass over the middle, then stumbled and fell on one knee at the Syracuse three-yard line. But he stretched his arms while falling and placed the ball over the goal line.

Berger missed the extra point, making the score 19-16. Dar Dar scored on the next kickoff. Lamont Warren ran six yards for Colorado’s final touchdown.