Last-second FG gives Syracuse 37-34 win over Northwestern

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Doug Marrone needed some sort of validation. Greg Paulus and Ryan Lichtenstein provided Syracuse's rookie head coach with more than enough.

Paulus, the point-guard-turned quarterback, threw for two touchdowns and ran for another and Lichtenstein kicked a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the game to give Syracuse a 37-34 win Saturday night against Northwestern.

Although the Carrier Dome wasn't as packed as it was in the season-opening, overtime loss to Minnesota, the orange-clad crowd finally left the building with something to talk about after four seasons that produced just 10 wins under Greg Robinson.

"I'm excited," Marrone said after the first win at his alma mater. "This helps chip away the monkey on your back, the chip on your shoulders."

Max Suter set up the winning points with an interception, returning it to the Wildcats 39. Paulus then guided the Orange into field goal range for the freshman kicker, who had a field goal blocked in the second quarter. Lichtenstein hit it true, despite a huge case of nerves.

"It was a completely mind-numbing experience," said Lichtenstein, who also kicked a 43-yard field goal for the first points of the game. "I didn't see it."

Paulus did, though. Heck, he even predicted it.

"After the first one, I came up to him and said, 'You're going to hit the game-winning field goal,' "Paulus said. "I said, 'Start visualizing it, start practicing it. That's what you're going to do, and I'll be first one to come and tackle you.' "

Paulus, who starred at point guard for Duke for four years before giving football a shot with his final year of athletic eligibility, was elusive, sharp, and in command from the outset. He displayed a flair for the deft fake, sidestepped the rush when he had to, completed throws on the run against blitzes, and even scored on a nifty run.

If he had doubters when he transferred, there can't be too many left now. He was a star here in high school five years ago, and he's a budding star now after just three games with the Orange (1-2).

Paulus scored on a 10-yard run and was 24-for-35 for 346 yards and two touchdowns with one interception for the Orange, who started 0-3 the previous two seasons under former coach Greg Robinson. Mike Williams had 11 catches for 209 yards and two TDs.

"It's still always amazing to me. I think we take it for granted because he was such a tremendous high school player and a tremendous basketball player," said Marrone, who named Paulus the starter early in preseason camp. "This is a player who's only been playing football for seven to eight weeks now."

The rust from not having played since he was named the best high school player in the country in 2004 has shown at times. Paulus threw an ill-advised pass in overtime against Minnesota that cost Syracuse a chance at victory, and he made two big mistakes against the Wildcats (2-1) that nearly cost the Orange this win.

Paulus threw an interception in the end zone in the final 10 seconds of the first half after Syracuse had forced a turnover, leaving the field with his hands on his helmet and staring in disbelief, and he also lost a fumble that Northwestern capitalized on for the go-ahead score late in the third.

That tackle of Lichtenstein erased all of that, though.

"It's good to be able to finish the deal," Paulus said. "But we've got to keep moving forward."

Mike Kafka was 35-for-42 for 390 yards and three touchdowns for Northwestern. He also caught a 24-yard TD pass and scored on a 3-yard run. He was magnificent until his ill-fated throw that was picked off by Suter.

"We did a lot of good things offensively," Kafka said. "There are two plays we would like to have back. We're going to flush it and move on. We'll bounce back."

The Wildcats scored with 9:04 left on an 11-play, 80-yard drive to take a 34-27 lead. Kafka hit Zeke Markshausen for 13 and 30 yards on consecutive plays, then rolled right and hit Demetrius Fields with a 3-yard TD toss.

But Stefan Demos, whose 49-yard field goal in the final seconds gave the Wildcats a 27-24 victory over Eastern Michigan a week ago, missed the extra point and the Orange had renewed life.

Paulus quickly capitalized, guiding Syracuse 70 yards in six plays and hitting Williams with a pretty 13-yard strike over the middle on a third-and-5 play to tie it at 34-all with 6:07 left.