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SYRACUSE, New York (Ticker) -- The offense may not be ready for top-ranked Miami but the rest of 18th-ranked Syracuse appears to be. Behind a stellar defense that set up three scores and a special teams unit that accounted for the other tally, Syracuse prepped for its showdown next week by posting a 24-13 triumph over Big East Conference rival West Virginia. With the defense shortening the field for the offense, James Mungro had three touchdown runs of three yards or less. But with a matchup with the Hurricanes looming, Syracuse coach Paul Pasqualoni has to be concerned with a stagnant offense that amassed just 206 total yards and converted only 3-of-16 third-down opportunities. But the defense looks ready for next week's challenge. Senior free safety Quentin Harris had 15 tackles, including 10 solos and two for losses. Willie Ford and Clifton Smith added 10 tackles apiece and Dwight Freeney continued his outstanding season rushing the passer with two sacks. "They did a great job," Pasqualoni said of the defense. "The players fought them hard. We knew it was going to be a hard battle." West Virginia was shut down after crushing Rutgers, 80-7, last week in its highest output since 1959. Mungro finished with 75 yards on 20 attempts while R.J. Anderson completed 10-of-17 passes for 84 yards. It's possible that the Orangemen found themselves looking at next week's matchup. "To be honest, I never even thought about it," Syracuse defensive coordinator Chris Rippon said. "That's part of the uniqueness of this group of kids. There was never any mention of Miami. Everything was geared toward West Virginia. And it wasn't just lip-service. There was 100 percent attention to detail." Mungro was one of the few Orangemen who talked about Miami. "I've always thought about playing Miami for the big game," Mungro said. "The opportunity is there. There's no looking back saying I could have, should have done it. We're going to go out there and it's going to be a great game. We're playing for something and they're playing for something, so something's going to break." Syracuse (8-2, 5-0 Big East) is one of the hottest teams in the country, winning eight straight games since losing its first two contests to Georgia Tech and Tennesseee. Brad Lewis of West Virginia was 16-of-33 for 90 yards but was picked off once. Backup Rasheed Marshall was 9-of-14 for 72 yards but also was picked off once. Avon Cobourne did rush for 108 yards for the Mountaineers, who fell to 3-6 overall and 1-4 in conference competition. "Defensively we played hard and with great effort - we played well enough to win, but not on offense and special teams," West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez said. "The defense got tired at the end a bit. There is a fine line between winning and losing, and especially when you're playing a fine team, you can't afford the mistakes." Syracuse has won six of its last seven against West Virginia to open a 30-19 lead in the all-time series. Neither team showed much offense early but Freeney sacked Lewis and recovered the ensuing fumble to set up the Orangemen at the West Virginia 10. After a pair of runs, Anderson threw an incompletion and Collin Barber converted a 22-yard field goal just over nine minutes into the contest. "I saw him coming, but thought the guard was going to step up to make the block, and I guess he didn't get him," Lewis said of Freeney. "That's what we tried to do, win the turnover battle," Freeney said. "If you win that, more likely than not, you're going to win the game." The Mountaineers put together a 12-play, 61-yard drive that culminated in a 37-yard field goal by Brenden Rauh with 2:21 to go in the quarter. Rauh converted from 21 yards out 71 seconds into the second quarter but it was the last lead West Virginia had. Latroy Oliver picked off a pass at the West Virginia 41 and Syracuse put together its longest scoring drive of the contest, moving 41 yards in nine plays. Mungro capped the possession with a one-yard plunge up the middle. In a scoreless third quarter, West Virginia had the better of play but saw a drive stall at the Syracuse 15. The Mountaineers' next possession also ended on the Orangemen's side of the field and a third drive was cut short when Lewis was tackled for a 10-yard loss in Syracuse territory. With the Orangemen ahead, 10-6, their special teams came up with a huge play. On 4th-and-5 from the West Virginia 24, Andre Brinson blocked a punt and Barry Baker recovered at the 11. Mungro ran right for nine yards before bulling up the middle for two yards and a 17-6 lead. After the kickoff, the Mountaineers took over at their own 27 and Marshall was sacked on consecutive plays. The second sack, another by Freeney, resulted in yet another fumble that was recovered by Mark Holtzman at the 18. Freeney has 16 1/2 sacks this season and could pass Virginia Tech's Corey Moore's Big East record (17) next week. "He beat us a few times today, but he's been doing that to a lot of people," Rodriguez said of Freeney. "Great players step up and make plays." "I just go out there and try to play," Freeney said. "I play as hard as I can." Following the turnover, Mungro ran twice for a total of 13 yards and, after a personal foul on West Virginia, broke around left end for a three-yard score. Mungro has 27 career rushing touchdowns and needs one more rushing score to tie Ernie Davis and Dee Brown for second place on the school's all-time list. "He got it into the end zone a couple of plays," Pasqualoni said. "I thought that was the margin, so it worked out well." Marshall engineered a 13-play, 78-yard drive that he capped with a 10-yard scramble. But on the Mountaineers next possession, Oliver picked off Marshall at midfield and the Orangemen were able to run out the clock. "This game in the end it came down to field position and turnovers, and the turnover I'm talking about is the blocked punt," Pasqualoni said.
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