LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Senior tailback Damien Rhodes ended his Syracuse career in the worst possible way: on the sideline.

Rhodes suffered an apparent concussion with 10:12 remaining in the second quarter of Saturday’s 41-17 loss to Louisville on a 5-yard running loss. He was hit hard in the backfield and did not return.

Rhodes ended with 13 yards on 10 carries, a disappointing end to his four-year career at Syracuse. Rhodes was tackled several times in the backfield for losses Saturday and never found much running room.

The senior tailback from Manlius finished his career No. 9 on SU’s all-time rushing list with 2,461 yards.

‘I definitely feel for Damien,’ tailback Paul Chiara said. ‘Last game of his collegiate career, it’s definitely not the way I’d want to go out. He’s a great runner. It’s a shame to see him suffer a concussion.’

Another head injury

Backup tailback Paul Chiara also suffered a blow to the head on a stunning hit, but he managed to return. Chiara originally jumped up after the hit but then slowed down and needed assistance to the sideline.

Chiara said after the game he wasn’t sure if he suffered a concussion, but he passed the medical tests administered to him and was allowed back in the game.

‘I remember the hit,’ Chiara said. ‘I’m good now, just a little shook up.’

Chiara said the team gave him a written test after the hit, asking general questions like the date, time and location. He also had to remember a statement that an official told him at the beginning of the test and repeat it at the end.

Chiara gained 38 yards on eight carries filling in for Rhodes. He scored his first college touchdown with 6:29 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard run.

SU quarterback Perry Patterson appeared too audible at the line of scrimmage before handing off to Chiara on a delayed run. Chiara got to the linebackers and then sliced a hard juke to the right to beat the secondary into the endzone to trim the Louisville lead to seven, 24-17.

‘It was my first collegiate touchdown and all that I could expect,’ Chiara said. ‘It was too bad it wasn’t enough for us to get the win. … I was really excited when it happened. … It made it close.’

Joe starts, but Perry finishes

Joe Fields got the starting nod at quarterback Saturday but his odyssey lasted just three plays. Fields missed badly on his only two passing attempts and Robinson went to Patterson the following possession.

Patterson then led Syracuse on a six-play, 67-yard drive. He connected on his first two passes and then rushed for 16 yards on an option, exploding through a small hole outside the line.

Two plays later, Patterson eluded two tackles in the backfield, including from the talented Elvis Dumervil, before finding Nick Chestnut for a 36-yard touchdown. Chestnut made a nice catch to stretch past Louisville free safety Brandon Sharp.

Patterson’s throw was in front of Chestnut enough that only the freshman receiver could grab it and also took advantage of a nullified defensive offside penalty thrown at the beginning of the play.

Patterson finished 19-of-39 for 259 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. One interception came on a ball that was jarred lose from wideout Tim Lane’s hands and the other came during the final moments of the game.

Patterson threw the ball with more precision and sharper than he has for most of the season.

‘Perry had an outstanding effort,’ SU head coach Greg Robinson said.

Patterson found a favorite target in Rice Moss, hooking up for six catches and 116 yards. Patterson targeted Moss on one short pass that Moss stretched into a 33-yard play and also found Moss in the fourth quarter for a 43-yard reception.

‘It was one of the best days I’ve ever seen him play, especially against a defense like that,’ SU linebacker Kelvin Smith said. ‘He was real poised. He stood in there and made a lot of plays.’

Carney on top

The punt watch ended at the 4:38 mark of the second quarter.

That was when Brendan Carney punted for the fifth time, breaking Mike Shafer’s single-season punting record of 77. Carney finished Saturday with nine punts, setting a new record with 81.

Fittingly, Carney’s record-breaking punt was also his longest of the day, a 53-yard boomer.

Carney came into the game averaging 42.5 yards a punt, placing him No. 24 in the country and No. 1 in the Big East.

This and that…

Freshman running back Curtis Brinkley did not make the trip to Louisville after his father died earlier in the week. Freshman receiver Bruce Williams took Brinkley’s spot on the kickoff return team. … Ricky Krautman continued extra-point kicking duties. Krautman lost the job after missing a try versus Cincinnati and sat against South Florida. He returned to kick one PAT last week against Notre Dame. … A Gator Bowl representative was on hand with the Cardinals a possible pick for the Jan. 2 bowl game. Louisville accepted a bid on Monday to play as the Big East representative in the game. … Cardinal quarterback Brian Brohm tore his ACL in the third quarter against SU, the team said Monday. He will miss the rest of the season.

Published on November 28, 2005 at 12:00 pm