Story by Kaimeng Yang
Photo by Yonah Perline
Starting quarterback Eric Dungey was knocked out of the game in the second quarter and the Orange gave up a lead late in regulation, but came from behind in overtime to defend its home field with a 30-27 victory. It is not a pretty win but coach Scott Shafer said he was very satisfied with his players.
"We are 3-0, and it has been 24 years since Syracuse has been 3-0," Shafer said. "Let's give these kids credits because we played some guys we did not expect to play."
Clutch time
Syracuse led the game by a touchdown, 24-17 until seven seconds remained in regulation.
With 15 seconds left, Shafer called time out in an unsettled situation to try to get his defense set.
But CMU quarterback Cooper Rush connected with Ben McCord for a 27-yard touchdown on 3rd and 15. Rush finished 37-51 passing , for 430 yards, two TDs and an interception.
Overtime: Orange comes through
Syracuse won the toss in overtime and gave the Chippewas possession first. They pushed to the Syracuse six-yard line and looked ready to take it into the end zone. But defensive end Ron Thompson made a key play that stopped CMU running back Spalding Devon at the one-yard line on third-and-goal and CMU had to kick a field goal. That gave Syracuse chance to win if it could score a touchdown in the next drive. Syracuse did not let the chance go this time.
Quarterback Zack Mahoney connected with Kendall Moore on third-and-5 for 13 yards. Then Fredericks rushed for seven yards in two plays and scored the game winning touchdown, diving for the pylon on an option play right.
"Everything was in slow motion,"Fredericks said. "I ran toward the back of my receivers. I saw the pylon and just reached for it."
Quarterback Zack Mahoney connected with Kendall Moore on third-and-5 for 13 yards. Then Fredericks rushed for seven yards in two plays and scored the game winning touchdown, diving for the pylon on an option play right.
"Everything was in slow motion,"Fredericks said. "I ran toward the back of my receivers. I saw the pylon and just reached for it."
The last time Syracuse football started the season with 3-0 was in 1991. No player on the current roster was even born at that time.
Syracuse takes an early lead
Both teams started slowly on offense. After two 3-and-outs CMU put points on the board first with a 34-yard field goal. Syracuse began to fight back and seemed to have control of the game. Cole Murphy tied it with a 21-yard field goal. Then CMU missed a 51-yard field goal attempt. SU quarterback Eric Dungey took advantage immediately.
Starting from his own 39, he threw deep down the left side and found Steve Ishmael for 62 yards. One the next play Dungey took the ball into the end-zone himself, for a four- yard rushing touchdown. Syracuse led 10-3 with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
Starting from his own 39, he threw deep down the left side and found Steve Ishmael for 62 yards. One the next play Dungey took the ball into the end-zone himself, for a four- yard rushing touchdown. Syracuse led 10-3 with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, CMU had to punt on its first drive. On the next Syracuse possession Dungey had Syracuse rolling again. After three first downs the ball was at CMU's 25.
Dungey rolled out from the shotgun and passed to Dontae Strickland for a 25-yard touchdown. But already in the grasp of a tackler from behind, Dungey was hit hard, helmet-to-helmet by CMU linebacker Mitch Stanitzek. Dungey was able to walk away in his own power but was declared out for the game shortly afterward. Stanitzek was flagged for a personal foul for targeting and was ejected.
Dungey rolled out from the shotgun and passed to Dontae Strickland for a 25-yard touchdown. But already in the grasp of a tackler from behind, Dungey was hit hard, helmet-to-helmet by CMU linebacker Mitch Stanitzek. Dungey was able to walk away in his own power but was declared out for the game shortly afterward. Stanitzek was flagged for a personal foul for targeting and was ejected.
Turning point
Syracuse already had lost Terrel Hunt on opening day against Rhode Island, giving the true freshman Dungey a chance to shine. With Dungey was injured as well, the Orange had to rely on the third and fourth-string quarterbacks AustinWilson and Zack Mahoney.
After Rush drove the Chippewas 75 yards to make it 17-10, Wilson and Mahoney alternated for Syracuse, bringing the Orange on a 41-yard drive capped by Wilson's completion to Jamal Custis for a touchdown. At halftime Syracuse led 24-10.
But the offense collapsed in the second half. Nobody on offense could find a rhythm.
"It's like you hit a wall, almost, and your are trying to climb up it, "Fredericks said. "You're are trying to get around it, but you cannot because it is a never-ending wall."
Syracuse did not get a first down in the entire second half, and only rushed a total of 16 yards. CMU's offense stayed on the field for more than 22 minutes, and finally tied the game with seven seconds left in regulation.
Next men up
The first thing coach Shafer said during the post game news conference was that Dungey was fine. While speculation was that the QB might have a concussion, the coach said only that it was an "upper body injury." Dungey was able to talk and laugh with other players after the game. He was to be examined again on Sunday.
The Orange hosts No.14 LSU next Saturday with kick-off time around noon.
"We will not play a young man if there is any chance he is not ready to be playing," Shafer said.
The coach said he is not worried about having to play Wilson and Mahoney, a walk-on.
"Both of them know the entire offense, and for me I just play the guy that gives us the best chance to win."
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