Mungro Leads Syracuse Romp

There were too many mistakes and too much Mungro for Kansas State in the Insight.com Bowl.

James Mungro wrapped up his outstanding collegiate career with 112 yards rushing and three touchdowns, including a 65-yarder, and 18th-ranked Syracuse easily handled the Wildcats, 26-3, Saturday in front of 40,028 at Bank One Ballpark.

With his seventh 100-yard rushing game this season, Mungro passed Larry Csonka for second place on Syracuse’s career rushing list with 2,981 yards, behind Joe Morris (1978-81).

The Wildcats, fifth in NCAA Division I this season in rushing at 257 yards per game, had a season-low 33 yards in 34 carries.

“Today was a great day for the defense,” Syracuse Coach Paul Pasqualoni said.

The Orangemen, the Big East runner-up to No. 1 Miami, believed they deserved to play in a New Year’s Day bowl, but were passed over by the Gator Bowl in favor of Virginia Tech.

Moreover, Syracuse was a five-point underdog against a Kansas State team that had to win four of its last five to qualify for a bowl.

“That was an incentive for us,” Mungro said. “I don’t think we were like, ‘Why are they favored?’ But it was like ‘OK, they’re favored, we know we’re a better team. Let’s go out there and prove to America we’re a better team than them.”’

The Orangemen (10-3) were in command early, then celebrated with a big splash at the end. Offensive linemen Giovanni Deloatch and Sean O’Connor leaped, in uniform, into the stadium’s pool.

R.J. Anderson completed five of 14 passes, including a 52-yarder to Johnnie Morant for a touchdown with 3:22 to play.

The Orangemen reached 10 victories for the sixth time in school history and the first since 1992.

They turned two Kansas State turnovers into touchdowns in a 52-second span in the second quarter.

Kansas State (6-6) failed to have a winning season for the first time since 1992.

The Wildcats had won 11 in each of the previous four seasons.

“We didn’t prepare as well as we should have, didn’t play as well as we should have, and I didn’t coach as well as I should have,” Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder said. “From the outset, that has a lot to do with it.”

In a rematch of the teams that played in the 1997 Fiesta Bowl, neither offense had much success.

Mungro ran 65 yards on an option play to give Syracuse a 7-0 lead with 6:38 to play in the first quarter.

Joe Rheem’s 29-yard field goal pulled Kansas State within 7-3 with 4:03 to go in the quarter.

Then came Kansas State turnovers on consecutive plays that put Syracuse in firm control.

Punter Mike Ronsick bobbled a snap and Syracuse’s Barry Baker recovered at the Wildcat four. Mungro scored on a one-yard run two plays later to put Syracuse ahead, 13-3.

Marc Dunn’s pass was intercepted by Willie Ford, who returned it 36 yards to the Kansas State 42.

Anderson’s 41-yard pass to Morant set up another one-yard touchdown run by Mungro that gave Syracuse a 19-3 lead with 10:47 to play in the half.

Both conversion kicks were blocked by Josh Buhl.