This game won't go in the Syracuse history books as the greatest game that was ever played by an Orange football team, but the feeling is no different.
Freshman kicker Ross Krautman nailed a game-winning 24-yard field goal with 1:07 remaining in the fourth quarter to help Syracuse (7-3, 4-2 Big East) become bowl eligible for the first time since 2004.
The Orange now sit alone in second place in the Big East Conference and trail first place Pittsburgh by a half-game.
After Rutgers missed a late, go-ahead, 45-yard field goal, Syracuse responded with a 11-play, 66-yard drive to get within chip-shot, field-goal range.
Syracuse running back Antwon Bailey, who scored the SU’s only touchdown early in the first quarter on a four-yard swing pass from quarterback Ryan Nassib, rushed for 37 yards on the final drive.
The truth is, the night belonged to Rutgers’ wide receiver Jeremy Deering, who used the Wildcat formation to carve through the Syracuse defense and rush for 166 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries.
The Orange couldn’t stop Deering but could stop the Scarlet Knight offense when he wasn’t in the game.
That was the case on Rutgers second-to-last possession, which marched deep into Orange territory.
But Deering, who carried the ball five times for 41 yards during the drive, exited for a breather and on the next play, quarterback Tom Savage was sacked by Syracuse’s Derrell Smith for an eight-yard loss.
That tackle pushed the Knights back to the Orange 27. San San Te’s field goal attempt was short.
Deering’s TD came in the third quarter on a 19-yard scamper and gave Rutgers a 10-7 lead.
It was set up by a 34-yard reception by wide receiver Mark Harrison from Savage, who replaced starting quarterback Chas Dodd at halftime.
SU tied the game at 10 on its second possession of the half when Krautman hit a 48-yard field goal.
Syracuse running back Delone Carter had a team-high 85 rushing yards on 18 carries. Nassib finished 16-of-31 for 214 yards with a TD and interception.
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