EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Jerome Smith needed nine games to reach the end zone last season. In Saturday’s season opener against Penn State, the junior running back needed just three quarters.

Smith ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, first taking a shotgun handoff around the left side for a 10-yard score, then following two fullbacks into the end zone from 1 yard out for his second touchdown in New York’s College Classic.

“I trained really hard this summer to take care of those things, be in shape at the end of drives and be able to finish on the goal line,” Smith said. “So it’s a good feeling when all your hard work that you put in pays off.”

Often times last season, especially early in the year, Syracuse would give the ball to fullback Adonis Ameen-Moore in the ‘tank’ package. In the Orange’s 23-17 loss to Penn State at MetLife Stadium, Smith was the guy in the red zone.

And while his two scores weren’t enough for Syracuse to beat the Nittany Lions, they were hard-earned as PSU packed the box against inexperienced SU quarterback Drew Allen.

Senior running back Prince-Tyson Gulley struggled, tallying only 24 yards on 12 carries, limiting what was expected to be a dynamic two-headed ground game.

Smith’s lone blunder came on a fumble early in the second quarter.

“I lost track of technique,” Smith said. “I just had the ball low, and when you carry the ball low you’re going to have those kind of problems.”

Published on August 31, 2013 at 11:19 pm

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1