EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – When Delone Carter answered questions following Syracuse’s 56-31 loss to Connecticut Saturday, he had no idea that he had just joined an exclusive group of SU running backs that rushed for 1,000 yards in a season.

‘I really didn’t know I got over 1,000, I was just focused on the game really and pretty disappointed we lost,’ Carter said. ‘I can’t wait till next season to get this thing started and get this thing rolling again.’

With a 13-yard rush for a first down in the second quarter, Carter became the ninth SU player to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in program history. He finished the year with 1,048 yards, good for ninth best in single-season program history. He now needs just 489 yards to pass Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis for 10th place on Syracuse’s all-time list.

‘I still have no clue I got over 1,000 (yards),’ Carter added. ‘It didn’t feel like I got over 1,000 this week, but I guess it will hit me later.’

Carter needed just 54 yards to hit 1,000 entering Saturday’s game and accomplished the feat on his 13th carry of the game. With the Orange driving at the UConn 36-yard line, Carter scrambled 13 yards for a first down and pushed his season total up to 1,006 with the carry.

He finished the game with 102 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Carter averaged 85.1 yards per game and scored 11 touchdowns. He also netted 4.3 yards per carry.

Carter played particularly well at the end of the season after the departure of former star wide receiver Mike Williams, rushing for 100 yards in three of the four contests after Williams quit the team. In that stretch, he averaged 111.25 yards per game.

‘Delone was great,’ wide receiver Alec Lemon said. ‘If it wasn’t for him, us receivers wouldn’t be open. If they didn’t have as many people in the box we couldn’t be able to get the ball out, and I thanked Delone for playing with him this season.’

Lobdell scores

Only 15 minutes remained in Lavar Lobdell’s college career, and he had yet to catch a touchdown pass. Quarterback Greg Paulus told the senior the first play of the fourth quarter would either go to Lobdell, or be thrown away.

Five seconds later, Lobdell finally experienced the joy of scoring a touchdown on a 12-yard pass from Paulus. In his 38th collegiate game, the last one he would ever play, Lobdell finally tallied six points for the Orange.

‘I definitely will remember that in my career, among many other things,’ Lobdell said. ‘Again, we didn’t finish the way we wanted to, we finished 4-8, but there are a lot of encouraging things for these young guys to look forward to.’

Lobdell came to SU as a consensus top 20 receiver from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse. In his senior season, he hauled in 38 catches for 733 yards and 21 touchdowns. He failed to match that hype at Syracuse, though.

His 2008 season, in which he compiled 165 yards, was his best statistical year, and he finished with just 386 yards in four seasons. But Saturday was his chance for personal redemption. His touchdown grab cut Connecticut’s lead to 35-24 and allowed him to leave the Orange without a goose egg in the touchdown column.

Even with the little success in his five years, Lobdell was content with his tenure at Syracuse.

‘It’s had its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it in for anything,’ Lobdell said. ‘I pulled all the freshmen here aside and tried to encourage them: ‘This is your first year at Syracuse, but it’s not your last, so take advantage of all the time you have here and enjoy it.’ I’m never going to forget any of these guys that were on this 2009 football team.’

THIS AND THAT

Tight end Mike Owen’s touchdown grab was his first of the season. …Alec Lemon’s three-yard score was the first of his career. …He set a career-high in receptions and receiving yards, and had the first 100-yard game of his career. …Syracuse finished 1-6 in Big East play for the fourth straight season. …Syracuse has lost its last three games to Connecticut by an average of 24.3 points. …Williams finished with 20 more catches, 451 more receiving yards and three more touchdowns than any other wide receiver. …Linebacker Derrell Smith led the team with 82 tackles. …Linebacker Doug Hogue led the team with 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. …Safety Mike Holmes paced the secondary with three interceptions.

Published on November 30, 2009 at 12:00 pm