By Gabriella Kreuz
Photo courtesy cuse.com
Syracuse went stride for stride with No. 22 Duke for three quarters on SU's Senior Day in the Carrier Dome Saturday. But a series of unfortunate events in the 4th quarter extinguished the Orange's chances at a bowl game in a 27-10 loss to the Blue Devils.
"It hurts," Head Coach Scott Shafer said. "It was one of those goals that we wanted to come back and reach. And we didn't."
In what's been the trend all season, the Syracuse defense held strong to keep the Orange in the game when the offense struggled to make plays. The Orange had 12 players out, including three offensive linemen as well as first-string quarterback Terrell Hunt and backup AJ Long.
Still Syracuse held its own through the third quarter with two redshirt freshmen sharing the quarterbacking duties. Austin Wilson started at QB and finished the game, going 11-of-19 passing for 68 yards. In between Mitch Kimble went 6-of-13 for 37 yards and ran for a touchdown before going out with an injury.
After trailing the Blue Devils 10-3 at the half, Syracuse held Duke scoreless in the third quarter. At second-and-seven on the Duke 8-yard line, Kimble rode Ervin Philips into the line, then pulled the ball out and ran eight yards into the end zone for a touchdown to cap a nine-play, 67-yard drive. Cole Murphy's extra point tied the game at 10-10.
With about a minute to go in the third, Syracuse was pinned at its own one-yard-line when Will Monday's 56-yard punt was downed by DeVon Edwards. The quarter ended with a three-yard run on second down by Prince-Tyson Gulley.
Pivot Point
The Orange started the fourth quarter with the ball on its 4-yard line. On third-and-seven Kimble threw an incomplete pass intended for Jarrod West. Riley Dixon's 52-yard punt was returned ten yards by Jamison Crowder to the Syracuse 46-yard line.
On third and four from the Orange 40-yard-line, Boone's pass intended for Crowder was intercepted by Brandon Reddish at the SU 2-yard-line, stopping the drive but pinning the Orange deep in its own territory for the second consecutive possession.
On first down, Gulley was dropped for a one-yard loss. On second down Kimble's pass for Jamal Custis fell incomplete. On third down, Rob Trudo was flagged for a false start and the Orange headed in the wrong direction. Kimble then threw another incomplete pass, this time intended for West.
It got worse.
On fourth down, Crowder fielded Dixon's 51-yard punt and took it back 52 yards for a touchdown. Ross Martin made the extra point and puts the Devils ahead 17-10 with 12:45 left in the fourth.
Wheels Fall Off
On third-and-two, Kimble was dropped for a two-yard loss, setting up what might have been the biggest play of the afternoon.
On fourth and four from the Syracuse 31-yard line, the Orange's fake punt with Devante McFarlane taking a direct snap gained just one yard and Syracuse turned the ball over on downs.
Duke took advantage. On fourth down Martin kicked a 34-yard field goal to extend Duke's lead to 20-10 with a little over nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Jack Willoughby's kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback.
Wilson's second-down pass was intercepted by Breon Borders and returned to the Blue Devils' 42-yard line.
On third-and-six from the 36, Anthony Boone completed a pass to Isaac Blakeney, who dodged a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown. Martin's extra point closed out the scoring putting the Blue Devils on top, 27-10. Syracuse's last two possessions ended in punts.
Tough Moment On Senior Day
The loss was a hard one for the seniors who played their last game in the Dome Saturday night.
"It's devastating," said Gulley, a fifth-year senior. "As long as I've been here, four years we went to three out of four bowl games, so that's pretty much all I know. For us not to make one kind of hurts, but I just take it on the chin."
Coming Up
Syracuse has a much-needed bye week before the team travels to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff time at Heinz field will be announced this coming week. The Orange closes out the season the following weekend at Boston College.
By Gabriella KreuzPhoto courtesy cuse.com
Syracuse went stride for stride with No. 22 Duke for three quarters on SU's Senior Day in the Carrier Dome Saturday. But a series of unfortunate events in the 4th quarter extinguished the Orange's chances at a bowl game in a 27-10 loss to the Blue Devils.
"It hurts," Head Coach Scott Shafer said. "It was one of those goals that we wanted to come back and reach. And we didn't."
In what's been the trend all season, the Syracuse defense held strong to keep the Orange in the game when the offense struggled to make plays. The Orange had 12 players out, including three offensive linemen as well as first-string quarterback Terrell Hunt and backup AJ Long.
Still Syracuse held its own through the third quarter with two redshirt freshmen sharing the quarterbacking duties. Austin Wilson started at QB and finished the game, going 11-of-19 passing for 68 yards. In between Mitch Kimble went 6-of-13 for 37 yards and ran for a touchdown before going out with an injury.
After trailing the Blue Devils 10-3 at the half, Syracuse held Duke scoreless in the third quarter. At second-and-seven on the Duke 8-yard line, Kimble rode Ervin Philips into the line, then pulled the ball out and ran eight yards into the end zone for a touchdown to cap a nine-play, 67-yard drive. Cole Murphy's extra point tied the game at 10-10.
With about a minute to go in the third, Syracuse was pinned at its own one-yard-line when Will Monday's 56-yard punt was downed by DeVon Edwards. The quarter ended with a three-yard run on second down by Prince-Tyson Gulley.
Pivot Point
The Orange started the fourth quarter with the ball on its 4-yard line. On third-and-seven Kimble threw an incomplete pass intended for Jarrod West. Riley Dixon's 52-yard punt was returned ten yards by Jamison Crowder to the Syracuse 46-yard line.
On third and four from the Orange 40-yard-line, Boone's pass intended for Crowder was intercepted by Brandon Reddish at the SU 2-yard-line, stopping the drive but pinning the Orange deep in its own territory for the second consecutive possession.
On first down, Gulley was dropped for a one-yard loss. On second down Kimble's pass for Jamal Custis fell incomplete. On third down, Rob Trudo was flagged for a false start and the Orange headed in the wrong direction. Kimble then threw another incomplete pass, this time intended for West.
It got worse.
On fourth down, Crowder fielded Dixon's 51-yard punt and took it back 52 yards for a touchdown. Ross Martin made the extra point and puts the Devils ahead 17-10 with 12:45 left in the fourth.
Wheels Fall Off
On third-and-two, Kimble was dropped for a two-yard loss, setting up what might have been the biggest play of the afternoon.
On fourth and four from the Syracuse 31-yard line, the Orange's fake punt with Devante McFarlane taking a direct snap gained just one yard and Syracuse turned the ball over on downs.
Duke took advantage. On fourth down Martin kicked a 34-yard field goal to extend Duke's lead to 20-10 with a little over nine minutes to go in the fourth quarter. Jack Willoughby's kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback.
Wilson's second-down pass was intercepted by Breon Borders and returned to the Blue Devils' 42-yard line.
On third-and-six from the 36, Anthony Boone completed a pass to Isaac Blakeney, who dodged a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown. Martin's extra point closed out the scoring putting the Blue Devils on top, 27-10. Syracuse's last two possessions ended in punts.
Tough Moment On Senior Day
The loss was a hard one for the seniors who played their last game in the Dome Saturday night.
"It's devastating," said Gulley, a fifth-year senior. "As long as I've been here, four years we went to three out of four bowl games, so that's pretty much all I know. For us not to make one kind of hurts, but I just take it on the chin."
Coming Up
Syracuse has a much-needed bye week before the team travels to Pittsburgh to take on the Panthers on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff time at Heinz field will be announced this coming week. The Orange closes out the season the following weekend at Boston College.
| Syracuse finished one of their worst records in the Dome in school history (5-1) |
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