Virginia Silences Syracuse

Connor Hughes kicked a 19-yard field goal as time expired, and No. 25 Virginia escaped the raucous Carrier Dome in Syracuse, N.Y., with a 27-24 victory over the Orange on Saturday.

It was the second victory in two years for Virginia (2-0) over Syracuse (1-2) and spoiled a determined comeback by the Orange, which trailed, 24-14, entering the fourth quarter.

Marques Hagans, who gained 110 yards rushing and completed 16 of 26 passes for 145 yards, shook off three interceptions to lead the Cavaliers on their winning drive.

Hagans gained 26 yards on a keeper to get it going, and Virginia Coach Al Groh elected to run down the clock, gambling on a fourth-and-one play at the Syracuse nine-yard line with just over a minute left. Fullback Jason Snelling responded with a four-yard run to set up the winning kick.

Perry Patterson completed 17 of 26 passes for 172 yards and scored twice on short runs for Syracuse. Damien Rhodes, who rushed for 236 yards and scored four times last week against Buffalo, finished with 79 yards.

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In other games involving Big East teams: Andre Hall ran for 155 yards and two touchdowns to help South Florida (2-1) to a 31-14 win over Central Florida (0-2) at Tampa and extend the nation’s longest losing streak to 17 games.... Bradley Glatthaar ran seven yards for a touchdown late in the first half and Cincinnati (2-1) made it hold up for a 7-3 win over visiting Western Carolina (2-1).... Ryan Hart threw a pair of touchdown passes and Brian Leonard rushed for 121 yards to lead Rutgers (2-1) to a 17-3 win over Buffalo (0-3) at Amherst, N.Y.

EAST

Bruce Gradkowski threw four touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead Toledo (3-0) to a 42-17 rout of Temple (0-3) at Philadelphia.

ROCKIES

Quarterback Corey Bramlet dived in from the one-yard line to cap a 65-yard drive with 1:25 left and Deric Yaussi made the deciding extra point to lift Wyoming (2-1, 1-0) to a 29-28 victory over Air Force (2-1, 1-1) in a Mountain West game at Air Force Academy, Colo.

WEST

Robert Hubbard rushed for two short touchdowns and Brett Jaekle kicked three field goals to lead Nevada (1-1) to a 22-14 win over Nevada Las Vegas (1-2) at Reno.

MIDWEST

Brandon Murphy rushed for 172 yards and a touchdown, and Martin Nance caught seven passes for 103 yards and two scores from Josh Betts to lead Miami of Ohio (1-2, 1-1) to a 27-10 victory over Kent State (1-2, 0-1) in a Mid-American Conference game at Kent, Ohio.... Quarterback Phil Horvath had four touchdown passes in the first half to lead Northern Illinois (1-2) to a 42-3 victory over Tennessee Tech (1-2) at Dekalb, Ill.... Ryan Cubit passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns to lead Western Michigan (1-2) to a 34-28 win over Southern Illinois (2-1) at Kalamazoo, Mich.

SOUTH

DeAngelo Williams ran for 205 yards and three touchdowns to lead Memphis (1-1) to a 59-14 victory over Chattanooga (2-1) at Memphis, Tenn.... Larry Thomas ran for 115 yards and two touchdowns and Southern Mississippi (1-1) scored four times off turnovers in a 48-20 victory over McNeese State (1-1) at Hattiesburg, Miss.... Luke Getsy passed for 319 yards and two touchdowns to lead Akron (1-1) to a 17-7 win over Middle Tennessee (0-3) at Mufreesboro, Tenn.... Darrell Hackney threw two touchdown passes and Corey White ran for two scores to lead Alabama Birmingham (2-1) to a 35-28 victory over visiting Jacksonville State (0-3).... Tyrell Fenroy rushed for 163 yards in 15 carries to lead Louisiana Lafayette (1-2) to a 49-28 victory over visiting Northwestern State (1-2).

SOUTHWEST

DonTrell Moore ran for 120 yards to become the all-time career rushing leader at New Mexico (3-0) in a 38-21 win over New Mexico State (0-3) at Albuquerque. Moore has 3,928 yards, breaking the mark of 3,862 set by Mike Williams in 1975-78.... Paul Smith threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns as Tulsa (1-2) handed North Texas (1-1) its worst home loss, 54-2, at Denton, Texas.

SOUTHLAND

Marcel Demares caught a five-yard touchdown pass and Edward Pickett returned a fourth-quarter interception 58 yards for another score to lead Pomona-Pitzer (1-2) to a 14-0 victory over visiting Chapman (0-2).... Marcus Lampkin rushed for 104 yards in 15 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead Azusa Pacific (1-2) to a 31-13 victory over visiting Willamette (0-3).... Quarterback Josh Scurlock completed 12 of 27 passes for 244 yards and two touchdown passes and also rushed for another to lead Whittier (2-0) to a 27-19 win over visiting Menlo (0-3).... Joel Clark passed for 271 yards and four touchdowns to lead Whitworth (2-0) to a 43-28 victory over La Verne (1-1) at Spokane, Wash.... The defense scored two touchdowns for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (2-1) and quarterback Anthony Garnett rushed for two more in a 38-10 victory over visiting Montana State (1-2). Cal Poly is ranked No. 18 in Division I-AA.... Hutch Parker kicked field goals of 29, 34 and 39 yards to lead host San Diego (3-0) to its first win over an Ivy League school in seven tries, a 17-14 victory over Yale (0-1).