Struthers grad Reyes rescues Orangemen

In three starts, Walter Reyes has rushed for 368 yards and eight TDs.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- When James Mungro finished his career at Syracuse last year, the Orangemen had a big hole to fill in the backfield.
Not anymore.
Since the Orangemen hit rock bottom after their loss last month at West Virginia dropped them to 1-6, Walter Reyes of Struthers has come to the rescue. Given a rare chance to strut his stuff as a sophomore under a coaching staff that almost always gives upperclassmen the bulk of the work, he has rushed for 368 yards and eight touchdowns in the last three games -- all Syracuse victories.
"Given the opportunity, I can make things happen," said Reyes, 21, who had a school-record 3,005 yards rushing and scored 40 TDs at Struthers.
"Give me the ball and let me make things happen."
And that's what has occurred. When Diamond Ferri, the projected starter at tailback, took this year off after breaking undisclosed team rules, that left Reyes and only three other backs to compete for the job. Although freshman Damien Rhodes also has made an impact, Reyes has been the main go-to guy.
Already in record book
With two games remaining, Reyes already is in the Syracuse record book. He scored three times in last Saturday's triple-overtime victory over then-No. 8 Virginia Tech, giving him 15 rushing touchdowns for the season -- one better than the old mark set in 1965 by Floyd Little and equaled last year by Mungro.
Opposing defenses aren't the only ones shaking their heads at Reyes, who played in all 12 games last season but rushed for only 139 yards and one touchdown on 42 carries and had a long run of just 17 yards.
"It's kind of a very pleasant surprise for the entire football team," said running backs coach David Walker, who ranks fifth all-time in rushing at Syracuse. "I thought he'd be good. I didn't know he would develop as quickly as he has."
Runs hard, has great speed
The secrets of Reyes' success are his hard-running style and great speed -- he set the Ohio state record in the 55-meter sprint in high school and can cover 40 yards in 4.28 seconds. At 5-foot-10 and 205 pounds, he has a low center of gravity and has the ability to either run through or around defenders. It's not unusual to see him picking up his helmet after a run because it's popped off on impact several times.
"Pad level is very important," Reyes said. "As a running back, you know you're going to get shots, but you also want to deliver a blow instead of taking all the punishment. If you deliver a blow to the opponent hard enough to where it affects him, the next time he won't want to tackle you. He'll look to bring you down by an arm tackle and you'll run right through that."
"He gives you big-play capability every time you snap the ball," Walker said. "The thing I like about Walter is that he's always going forward, he's got tremendous body lean. You've always got to hit a hard surface when you tackle him -- the pad, the helmet, the knee, the thigh, something -- he runs behind his pads so well. And he's a very explosive kid. If he's got a seam, he's got a chance to take it to the house."
The house has been his home this year.
Averaging 6.1 yards a carry
Reyes, who has rushed for 930 yards and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry, is the first player in Syracuse history to have consecutive games with at least three rushing touchdowns. He's had a 51-yard run against Pittsburgh and touchdown runs of 79 yards against Rutgers, 68 yards at Auburn, and 38 yards at Central Florida, the latter the game-winner in a 38-35 comeback victory.
The long scoring runs against the Tigers and Scarlet Knights made Reyes the first player since Little to have two or more rushing touchdowns of more than 60 yards in a season.
Before injuring his right knee in the fourth quarter in the win over the Hokies, who entered the game ranked second in the nation against the run (66.8 yards per game), Reyes averaged seven yards per carry on 14 first-down rushes and also caught two passes for 40 yards. Reyes is expected to play Saturday against Boston College.
Senior quarterback Troy Nunes, who has guided the Orangemen to their three straight wins since taking over for R.J. Anderson, appreciates all the help.
"He's meant everything," said Nunes, who passed for a career-high 403 yards against Virginia Tech. "When we need a play and we need to wear down some clock or put the defense a little bit on their heels, we give it to Walt.
"In a way, Walt's opening up the play-action pass game. It's amazing," Nunes said. "People don't see it until you watch the film. A linebacker's coming up to play Walt, and we're taking the ball and throwing it."
The presence of Rhodes also has been a plus. Rhodes, who took over after Reyes hurt his knee against the Hokies and scored the game-winning touchdown on a 25-yard run, gives the Orangemen an imposing duo in the backfield, not to mention some friendly competition for playing time.
"Any time you have someone new coming in, and a highly touted recruit, he's going to be gunning for your job," said Reyes. "I'm not ready to give up my job, not until I graduate. It gives you a little extra incentive to work harder and make sure you're going to play."