game skid, beats RutgersSYRACUSE, New York — Ryan Nassib threw three touchdown passes to tight end Nick Provo, Dorian Graham returned a kickoff 98 yards for another score, and Syracuse stunned No. 11 West Virginia 49-23 Friday night. Syracuse (5-2, 1-1 Big East) hadn't beaten West Virginia (5-2, 1-1) at home in a decade, and the Orange played a near flawless game to break the streak, just as they did last year in a 19-14 upset of the Mountaineers in Morgantown. Syracuse's 49 points was the most against West Virginia since a 45-0 win in 1960, and the Carrier Dome crowd of 45,265 roared its approval as third-year head coach Doug Marrone enjoyed the most significant win of his brief tenure. The high-powered West Virginia offense led by Geno Smith was kept in check most of the game, only shining in fits and spurts. Louisville coach Charlie Strong knows his very young Cardinals still have lots of growing up left. And after a career-ending injury to teammate Anthony Conner, the work ahead will be easier coming off a win. Chris Philpott tied a school record with a 52-yard field goal, and Teddy Bridgewater threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter as Louisville beat Rutgers 16-14 Friday night, snapping a three-game skid. The victory provided a few minutes of celebration before Strong broke the news to his Cardinals that Conner broke his neck when the senior cornerback banged his head off Mohamed Sanu's right knee in the second quarter. Conner was at a hospital, and Strong said the senior is not paralyzed despite the severity of the injury. “It's just so tough anytime you lose a player,” said Strong, who kept tapping the side of the podium as he spoke. “It's what happens in this game, but you just never think it'll happen to one of your own. For that to happen, it is, it's sad. I think our players, I told them right after the game. I ended up telling them about it, and some of them didn't take it very well. The whole team didn't take it very well.” Louisville (3-4, 1-1 Big East) also capped a week in which Strong signed a new contract.
