Story by Julian McKenzie
Photos by Brianna Adams
SYRACUSE, N.Y. --
Syracuse players couldn't wait until the clock expired to celebrate their 31-17 upset victory over #17 Virginia Tech, the program’s first win over a ranked team since 2012 and their first win over an opponent in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season. The team celebrated at midfield before being joined by fans who ran down from the bleachers in pure joy. Even after the band played the alma mater, spectators remained on the field, kneeling and running around in disbelief.
“That’s what college football is all about,” Orange head coach Dino Babers said. “That excitement, that energy. It’s so pure. It’s so honest. Anytime when you’re 18-22 years old and you have an opportunity to experience something like that, it’s going to always be special. It’s always going to be something that stays with you for a very long time.”
Dungey’s Day
Syracuse was led by quarterback Eric Dungey who threw for 311 yards, a touchdown pass, and an interception. Dungey was also effective in the run game with 24 carries for 106 yards and a game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter.
All this despite suffering an injury to his right knee in the second quarter after being hit by Hokies linebacker Mook Reynolds. Dungey was brought down from behind and his knee was caught under Reynolds’s body, forcing the quarterback to wear a knee brace for the rest of the game.
“Training staff did a good job of letting me go back in. I was going to go back in regardless, but I’m happy I’m alright,” Dungey said.
“We need him, and we need him healthy,” Babers said.
Ineffective First Half
Meanwhile, the Hokies missed out on capturing their fifth straight road win against ACC teams. The team was coming off a 34-3 win over UNC last week, their first win over a ranked opponent since defeating Duke in 2014. Not only were the Hokies held to three points in the first half and 17 overall, the Orange nearly matched the amount of points they had allowed in the last three games in the first half. VT had only allowed 20 points in their last three games.
The Hokies were behind from the opening quarter as Syracuse scored first. Wide receiver Ervin Phillips caught a pass near midfield and was untouched as he sprinted towards the end zone for a 58-yard touchdown. On Syracuse’s first time on defense, the Orange held the Hokies to a three-and-out. Senior defensive lineman De’Jon Wilson sacked VT quarterback Jerod Evans, who came into the game as the ACC leader in passer rating, before the Orange defense made two more stops, forcing them to punt.
Virginia Tech’s only score of the first half came from a 36-yard field goal from Joey Slye with over six minutes left in the first quarter.
Syracuse then caught the Hokies defense off-guard in the second quarter with a trick play, courtesy of a pass from running back Dontae Strickland. The sophomore caught a pitch from Dungey before he found a wide open Brisly Estime for an 84-yard touchdown pass. It’s the longest pass play of the season for Syracuse and the sixth longest in program history.
“We practiced that play on Tuesday or Wednesday,” said Strickland, who threw and for a touchdown in the victory. “Coach had confidence in me and I had confidence in myself and my teammates had confidence in me so the play had to be done.”
Soon after, Syracuse kicker Cole Murphy hit a 51-yard field goal, the longest of his collegiate career and Syracuse’s longest since 2008. The field goal gave the Orange a 17-3 lead with four seconds left in the half, giving Syracuse a 14-point lead at the break.
Rising to the Occasion
The Hokies were down but they were not out as they responded with 14 unanswered points in the second half. Their first touchdown of the day came in the third quarter as Evans threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Ford, bringing the Hokies within six points of Syracuse. However, the point after attempt was blocked, leaving the score at 17-9.
Virginia Tech then tied the game in the fourth quarter as tight end Bucky Hodges caught a screen pass from Evans, ending an eight-play, 66-yard drive. This time, the Hokies converted a two-point attempt with a reception by receiver Chris Cunningham.
Syracuse responded with a 17-play, 75-yard drive led by Dungey, who scored on a one-yard run to give his team the eventual game-winning score. The Orange marched downfield with a mixture of pass and run plays before Dungey kept the ball from himself following the snap and ran it in the end zone.
The Orange added another touchdown, this time a 16-yard score by Strickland who shed several tackles on the way to the end zone, to give Syracuse a 31-17 lead with 5:23 to play, and placing the final nail in Virginia Tech’s chances of coming back.
Syracuse’s victory gives it a 3-4 overall record and improves the conference record to 1-2. Virginia Tech has four wins and two losses overall this season, but the loss was their first against a conference opponent. The Hokies have two other victories against ACC opponents.
The Orange’s next game will be on the road at Boston College on Oct. 22 while the Hokies will try to regroup for a Thursday night ACC showdown at home versus Miami.
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