SU Defeats UConn in First Away Game of Season

By Bridget Chavez

Photos by Kelsey Snider

EAST HARTFORD, CONN. - One yard, one turnover and one final scoring drive made all the difference in Syracuse's 31-24 win over UConn Saturday afternoon at Pratt and Whitney Stadium. With little time left in the final quarter, the Orange defense held the Huskies on fourth down-and-one at the goal line, forcing a turnover. The Orange offense took over with a 99-yard scoring drive, getting into the red zone for the first time in the game, sealing the deal for SU, who came off a two week losing streak at home. 

“It’s a big difference to say you’re 2-2 instead of 1-3,” Coach Dino Babers said. “For them to get this win against a very good opponent, I’m happy and hope to keep it going.”

Orange starts fast again, then stalls

An early 14-0 lead at the start of the first quarter set up the Orange to outplay the Huskies in both passing and receiving yards. 

Wide receiver, Amba Etta-Tawo, was well on his way to breaking SU records with 118 receiving yards at the end of the first quarter. By the end of the game Etta-Tawo had shattered a 31-year-old Syracuse record for most receiving yards in a single game with 270 receiving yards. Huskies wide receiver, Alec Bloone, trailed with 20.

SU’s quarterback, Eric Dungey, threw for 145 yards while UConn’s, Bryant Shirreffs, threw for 36 yards.

Momentum shifts

With 12:20 left to play in the second quarter, Shirreff's attempted pass to Hergy Mayala was tipped by and apparently snagged by SU’s Cordell Hudson at the 11-yard line for an interception. The call was challenged by UConn and overturned. 

The Huskies offense then began to poke holes in the Orange defensive line scoring their first touchdown on a two-yard rush by running back Ron Johnson. Bobby Puyol’s extra point sailed through the goal posts. 

Down by seven with less than a minute to play in the half, the Huskies, Arkeel Newsome, scored the home team’s second touchdown on a 6-yard run. Again, Puyol scored the extra point for the Huskies, tying up the score, 14-14. 

Desperate to regain the lead, SU marched up the field to the UConn 30-yard line falling short again of making it into the red zone. After three time outs as UConn tried to ice him with two-seconds to play, SU’s Cole Murphy made a 47-yard field goal bringing the Orange to a 17-14 lead at the half.

Second half.

UConn started off the third quarter with a 30-yard drive only to be stopped by the Syracuse defense, who held them on fourth-and-two. The SU offense took over at its own 6-yard line for a mere 7-yard drive and punted.

 The Huskies offense made it to the 10-yard line but instead of going for it on fourth-and-one, as they did several times before in the game, they went for the 27-yard field goal tying up the game again, 17-17.

Orange defense scores, then stops Huskies

SU's often-struggling defense came through again as Cordell Hudson intercepted Shirreffs pass after Zaire Franklin had tipped it for a pick six, running the ball back 22-yards for a touchdown with less than one-minute left to play in the thurd quarter. Cole Murphy’s PAT was good and Syracuse led 24-17.

The middle linebacker Franklin, who had the game-changing tip, then made the goal line stop as the Huskies drove tie on  fourth down.




Dungey drives, flies

Orange offense came back to score on a 99-yard drive with Dungey vaulting into the end-zone on a 6-yard rush, securing the Orange win.

UConn responded with a touchdown on a 24-yard pass to close the gap, but time expired and SU took home the win.

The Orange will take on the Irish Saturday, Oct. 1 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. The once tenth-ranked Fighting Irish were upset by the Duke Blue Devils, Saturday, 38-35 in South Bend and fell to 1-3.. 

The UConn Huskies will face the University of Houston Cougars on Thursday, Sept. 29.