Freshman Quarterback Comes Up Big

Story by Edward McFarland, Jr.

Photo by James Anderson

 

Syracuse, N.Y.  –  The Syracuse Orange whipped the Rhode Island Rams 47-0 Friday night at the Carrier Dome, despite the déjà vu that occurred, losing Terrel Hunt early in the first quarter. Syracuse’s defense set the tone for the game, and freshman quarterback Eric Dungey made sure the offense did not miss a beat with the loss of the starting quarterback.

Sloppy start

The first three possessions of the game resulted in turnovers. Syracuse’s kicker Ryan Norton, forced a fumble on Rhode Island’s senior Myles Holmes on the opening kick return. Freshman Dante Strickland for the Orange recovered the fumble, but Hunt gave the ball back as he was intercepted by Holmes, two players later.

On the third possession the Rams fumbled again. This time, sophomore running back Harold Cooper coughed up the ball. Orange freshman Kayton Samuels recovered the fumble, but the Orange could not convert.

The Rams turned the ball over once again as Syracuse’s senior cornerback Corey Winfield put the first points on the board with a 24-yard pick-six, just over four minutes into in the first quarter, putting Syracuse up 7-0 after sophomore kicker Cole Murphy’s extra point.

Two drives later the redshirt senior Hunt stepped awkwardly as he was running to his left and stumbled to the turf. He left the game and eventually hobbled to the locker room on crutches with what Coach Scott Shafer said was an Achilles tendon injury. Hunt, who missed most of last season with an injury, was 0-of-2 for passing with one interception when he went down.

“Terrel’s deal is not good,” Schafer said, “So just keep your thoughts and prayers out there for him.”


Dungey takes over
 

When Syracuse’s freshman Dungey took the field for the first time, he moved the offense down the field on a 60-yard scoring drive. It led to his first career passing touchdown for 32-yards to sophomore running back Ervin Phillips.

“[My teammates] had more faith in me than I had in me,” Dungey said. “It definitely took pressure off.” 

Syracuse ended the first quarter ahead 14-0, but it was just the start of the high scoring.

The Orange opened the second quarter with a field goal and another forced fumble. Converting off of the fumble, Dungey and Phillips connected again for a 9-yard touchdown pass that gave the Orange a 24-0 lead.

Junior receiver Brisly Estime then returned a punt 74-yards as time expired in the first half, giving the Orange a 31-0 cushion. 

Second half: more of the same

 The Orange went right back to the end zone on the opening drive in the second half.

Freshman running back Jordan Fredericks earned a 13-yard touchdown to build Syracuse’s lead to 38-0. Fredericks led Syracuse with 103 yards rushing on 14 carries for the game.
 

The defense then took the lead to 40-0 by getting a safety on the Rams' quarterback Paul Mroz.  He made an illegal double pass which was the result of the Orange’s D-Line batting his initial pass back to him. Mroz caught the ball and threw it again for a completion but by rule that's not allowed.

The Syracuse defense held Rhode Island to 64-yards of total offense.  Sophomore captain Zaire Franklin had six tackles, one for a sack.

Freshman running back Dontae Strickland finished the scoring with a 21-yard run that gave Syracuse  a 47-0 victory in the opener.

Syracuse reserves played most of the fourth quarter with sophomore Austin Wilson taking over at quarterback and mostly handing off as the Orange controlled the ball and the clock.

Dungey went 10-of-17 for a 114-yards with two touchdown passes in his first college game.

“We don’t have to change anything,” Shafer said, “Eric has the skill set that can do every part of our offense.”

Demon Deacons next
 

The Orange's next game is at the Carrier Dome in the Atlantic Coast Conference opener against Wake Forest next Saturday, Sept. 12 at 12:30 p.m.
 

“Were looking forward to getting Wake Forest in here and going after them and getting number two,” Schafer said.