Visualize this: You’re watching the 2016 Syracuse football team and it’s the often-maligned defense that ends up winning the game for the Orange. Well, on Saturday this is exactly what happened, as Syracuse (2-2, 0-1 ACC) defeated UConn (2-2) 31-24 in its first road game of the season.
“It’s a big difference saying you’re 2-2 [and] 1-3,” Baber said following the win. “These guys have really worked hard and I just want to make sure they have an opportunity for it to pay off.”
On 4th-and-3 from the Orange’s 25-yard line, the Huskies’ fake field goal ended with a 17-yard pass to Tommy Myers. The officials reviewed the catch and replays indicated Myers might’ve juggled the ball on the way down and didn’t maintain possession all the way to the ground. But after a brief delay, the call stood and UConn had first-and-goal at Syracuse’s eight yard-line.
Then the Syracuse defense flexed its muscles with an impressive goal-line stand that culminated in Zaire Franklin tackling quarterback Bryant Shirreffs on a draw-play to keep the Orange ahead 24-17.
On the ensuing possession, the Orange faced a 3rd-and-7 from their own four. Eric Dungey launched a pass to Amba Etta-Tawo, who went up in the air and won the battle against UConn defenders for a 59-yard completion and a first down. The Maryland transfer wide receiver finished the game with 270 yards (a new program record for SU) on 12 receptions and two touchdowns.
Smelling blood, the Syracuse offense continued its march down the field, ending with a Dungey lunge into the end zone that gave the Orange a 31-17 lead with 3:58 left to play. Given Dungey’s injury history, there’s always scrutiny that exists as it pertains his decision making, but Babers said he didn’t mind that play.
“He’s allowed to jump on touchdowns,” Babers said.
The offense pretty much slept-walk until that final scoring drive, but Dungey still finished 26-for-40 with 407 yards and two touchdowns. He became just the 4th player in program history to throw for 400 yards in a single game.
If you’re of the mindset that a .500 record and a bowl game are still attainable, then this was a must-win game. And in a very surprising turn of events, it was the defense that emerged as the story of the victory.
With the game tied at 17 in the third quarter and the SU offense struggling, the defense came up with a huge momentum-shifting, game-changing play. Shirreff’s pass from his own eight-yard line was tipped by Franklin and intercepted by Cordell Hudson, who took it the distance to give SU a 24-17 lead. It was the first defensive touchdown scored by the Orange all season.
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