COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Graves Gets Raves for Syracuse

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Marvin Graves and the Syracuse Orangemen continued their impressive roll Thursday night.

Graves accounted for a career-high five touchdowns with his precision passes and option runs as No. 6 Syracuse defeated East Carolina, 41-22.

Graves has completed 31 of 44 passes for 553 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions in two Syracuse victories.

“He was the difference,” East Carolina Coach Steve Logan said. “Every time you need a play, he makes it, either with his feet, his hands or his mind.”

Graves threw two touchdown passes and ran for three others as the Orangemen continued their road success under Paul Pasqualoni. Syracuse is 12-1 away from the Carrier Dome under the third-year coach, last losing to Florida State in 1991.

Graves, a senior, completed 20 of 27 passes--including 12 in a row at one point--for 329 yards, the second-highest total of his career. He threw for 425 against Rutgers last season.

Graves was at his best after East Carolina (0-1) closed to 21-16 at halftime. He completed all seven of his passes in the third quarter for 138 yards and ran for another 16 yards. His four-yard touchdown run midway through the quarter capped an 85-yard drive that gave Syracuse a 28-16 lead.