Football: Bulls Ride to a 45-20 Victory Over the Orange

Story by Aubrie Tolliver
Photos by Jacqueline Mundry

Syracuse, N.Y. -- The ACC leader in receiving yards, Syracuse's Amba Etta-Tawo, had 123 on Saturday, but it was the University of South Florida that came out on top in the 45-20 romp over Syracuse on Homecoming Weekend at the Carrier Dome..

With the win, USF improves to 3-0 on the season while the Orange falls to 1-2.

“I thought we started well,” Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said in his post-game press conference. “We just weren’t quite able to finish.”

Orange starts strong

Syracuse took an early lead, scoring on its first three drives of the game. On the first, quarterback Eric Dungey connected with Ervin Philips, who dove for the ball to his right from behind a covering Bull. He caught the ball while his entire body was in mid-air. Then it was Brisly Estime, who after receiving a 47-yard pass from Dungey, shook off three USF defenders and took it into the end zone. After kicker Cole Murphy’s field goal, it was 17-0 at the end of the first.

But, that just made the Bulls angry.

Bulls stampede

After gaining just 64 yards with only three first downs in the opening quarter, the USF offense more than quadrupled its production by half time. The Bulls had 280 yards, 14 first downs and made it into the end zone four times. Three of those touchdowns were thanks to wide receiver Rodney Adams. One more was tacked on my WR Marlon Mack, who ran a short two yards into the zone. The score was 28-17 at the halfway point.

“It was good to see our guys fight back,” USF Head Coach Willie Taggarts said  after the game. “I told them when they come we’re not going to flinch. We’re going to look [adversity] in the eye and say, ‘Bring it on.’”  

Syracuse scored just three more points on a field goal by Murphy while South Florida tacked on 17. Mack scored his second touchdown of the night, a 52-yard run, and D-Ernest Johnson took a punt return 83 yards to the house.

A USF field goal by Emilio Nadelman in the fourth made it 45-20, the final score.

Numbers

Syracuse’s Etta-Tawo led the game in receiving yards with 123 while RB Dontae Strickland’s 128 yards led in the rushing category; although, USF’s Mack was not far behind him. He had 120 total rushing yards.

Dungey completed 66 percent of his passes (32 out of 48 attempts) but threw two interceptions. Opposing quarterback Quinton Flowers kept the ball on the ground most of the game, throwing a total of 24 times while completing 12. His offense earned 263 rushing yards.

No excuses

Syracuse lost two key players, safety Antwon Corky and cornerback Juwan Dowels, this week due to injuries they received against Louisville. Cordy suffering from a forearm injury and Dowels from an injury to his knee. Both were starters and will miss the rest of the 2016 season.

“We have to find a way to win with the people that we have, with the depth that we have, with the injuries that we have,” Babers said.

Next

South Florida is scheduled to take on Florida State at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Saturday, Sept. 24 at 12 p.m. The Seminoles will be coming off a 63-20 blowout by Louisville.

Syracuse is scheduled to hit the road for the first time of the season, taking on the University of Connecticut at 1 p.m. in East Hartford, Conn.