Syracuse head coach Fran Brown and offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon have seven days to figure out how to score against their next opponent, No. 12 Georgia Tech, whom they visit next weekend in Atlanta.

What the Orange did offensively Saturday night in a 30-13 loss to visiting Pitt clearly didn’t work.

The Orange gained just 212 yards and 12 first downs, running for 76 yards and throwing for 136. Starting quarterback Rickie Collins, making his third start since the season-ending injury to Steve Angeli, was briefly benched in favor of freshman Luke Carney.

The game turned with 30 seconds left in the first half and the Panthers up 10-7. With the ball at its own 20, Syracuse threw three passes for 3 yards that led to a quick three-and-out and a punt. Pitt’s Kenny Johnson returned the punt 66 yards for a touchdown to put the Panthers up 17-7 at the half and send the Orange to the locker room to boos from the crowd at JMA Wireless Dome.

Syracuse fell to 3-4 (1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) with its third straight loss. Pitt moved to 5-2 (3-1 ACC).

After the game, Brown declined to discuss specifics of the play sequence, saying only there was a “miscue,” and took the blame for not running the ball to end the half.

“That was just really bad coaching,” Brown said. “That's probably one of the worst things that I've done since I've been a football coach here. … I felt as though I should have ran the ball. If we had ran the ball, we’d have went in 10-7 and I think that gave them too much momentum. My players work too hard.”

Interception Sets the Tone

The game got off to a rough start for Collins, who entered the game having completed 53 of 96 passes (55.21%) for 607 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions.

On the third play of the game and the ball at the Syracuse 25, Collins’ pass intended for Johntay Cook II was picked off by Tamon Lynum at the 37. Quarterback Mason Heintschel scrambled 36 yards to the end zone on a third-and-9 play to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead.

The Orange got an interception of their own by Davien Kerr, who grabbed a Heintschel pass intended for Johnson at the Pitt 46 and ran 34 yards. On second-and-9, Collins completed an 11-yard pass to Darrell Gill Jr. to tie the score.

Collins hit Emanuel Ross with a 12-yard pass with 6:22 left in the game, and the two-point conversion failed, making the score 23-13. Syracuse completed a successful onside kick, but two penalties on the offensive line resulted in the Orange turning the ball over on downs at the Pitt 35.

Collins finished the day 16-of-32 passing for 126 yards and ran for a team-high 37 yards.

Carney entered the game on Syracuse’s first possession of the second half and played 2 ½ series before Collins returned to execute a third-and-9 play. He was sacked for a 12-yard loss.

During his brief appearance, Carney was 2-of-3 passing for 10 yards. He gained nine yards on the ground on three carries.

Postgame, Brown said he anticipates Collins will be his quarterback at Georgia Tech.

“Whoever is going to give us the best chance,” he said. “Right now, Rickie is that guy.”

The Syracuse defense did its part. It held Pitt to 260 yards (143 passing, 117 rushing) and 16 first downs. The Orange had seven sacks for 35 yards and 12 tackles for loss for 44 yards.