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West Virginia tries to correct mistakes vs. Syracuse

Oct 10, 2006 - 10:28 PM Syracuse (3-3) at No. 5 West Virginia (5-0), 12:00 pm EDT

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (Ticker) - Fifth-ranked West Virginia looks to eliminate some sloppy play Saturday when faces Syracuse in its Big East Conference opener.

The Mountaineers (5-0, 0-0 Big East) angered coach Rich Rodriguez by committing 11 penalties in a 42-14 triumph at Mississippi State last week.

Steve Slaton rushed for 185 yards for West Virginia, which has been penalized 41 times for 417 yards this season.

"There were even a couple of penalties that aren't on the stats because they were offsetting," Rodriguez said. "The ones that are aggressive are one thing, but even the aggressive penalties have come because of poor technique whether it's pass interference or what have you. Those are things that we've got to do a good job of coaching to get corrected."

Syracuse (3-3, 0-1 Big East) opened conference play with a 21-11 setback to Pittsburgh last Saturday.

Perry Patterson completed 20-of-29 passes for a season-high 225 yards and a touchdown for the Orange, who allowed Panthers tailback Larod Stephens-Howling to rush for 221 yards on 27 carries.

West Virginia has won the last four games in the series, including a 15-7 home win last year.