Orange Hold Off Panthers for First ACC Win

Story by Corey Crisan, photos by India Timpton

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse Orange (3-3) held off late efforts from the Pitt Panthers (2-4) and moved to the .500 mark on the season. The Orange were led by tight end Ravian Pierce’s career day. He finished with nine catches for 99 yards, both career-highs. It was a back-and-forth game at the Carrier Dome Saturday, and the Orange won a close one over the Panthers, 27-24.

Last season, the Pitt Panthers and the Syracuse Orange battled to the finish in a wild contest to end the regular season. Pitt won 76-61 in a game that featured 621 combined rushing yards, 19 touchdowns, and 1,312 total yards. In the fifth week of the 2017 season, the ACC rivals wrote a different script. 

“It was good to finally get that monkey off our back,” Syracuse Head Coach Dino Babers said after the game. “It was our third close game all the way in the second half… To see the team rally together, and not only have all three units play well in the last 5 minutes.”

Babers continued, saying “It was exciting. The kids are excited, and we’re happy that we’re able to do our part and make sure everybody had a happy homecoming.”

Fast Start for the Orange

What looked to be a promising start for the Orange resulted in just three points. On the first drive, quarterback Eric Dungey found his top target - Steve Ishmael – for a 34-yard gain that put Syracuse into Pitt territory. The Orange couldn’t connect on deep passes to the endzone after two free plays due to offsides on Pitt’s defense. Syracuse settled for a field goal on its first drive and led 3-0 with 11:30 to play in the first. 

Syracuse then forced a three-and-out as Pitt gained only six yards.

The quarter featured six three-and-outs and six combined punts.

Syracuse lead 3-0 after the first quarter. 

Turning Tables

Pitt scored on the first play of the second quarter a 35-yard touchdown by Jordan Whitehead (who is listed as a defensive back on the team’s roster) and an extra point capped off a five-play, 54 yard drive that took 2:33 off the clock.

Syracuse responded by gaining a first down on their next drive, but the Orange had to punt again.

Pitt then added three more points on a 49-yard field goal by Alex Kessman with 7:26 to play until the half. 

Pitt lead 10-3 at this point.

Syracuse showed life at the end of the first half. A 21-yard touchdown from Dungey to Devin C. Butler tied this one up at 10-10 with 0:34 to play in the half. This play capped off a nine-play, 93-yard drive that took 2:17 to play.

Syracuse and Pitt were tied, 10-10, at halftime.

Game of Halves

On their first drive to start the second half, the Panthers padded their lead to 13-10 with a 42-yard field goal by Alex Kessman.  The Orange finally broke through the stout Pitt defense as Dungey scored on a 10-yard keeper. Syracuse lead 17-13 after a 13-play, 75-yard drive.

Cole Murphy then tacked on a 38-yard field goal with 2:12 to play in the third. Syracuse lead by a touchdown, 20-13. That field goal capped off a 10-play, 52-yard drive.

Syracuse lead 20-13 after three quarters.

 

A Strong Finish

Kessman continued to boot the Panthers as he nailed a 56-yard field goal to cut the Orange lead to 20-16.

Syracuse wide receiver Steve Ishmael entered Saturday’s game as the nation’s leader in catches (51) and he was second in yards (632). With 11:07 to play in regulation, Dungey connected with Ishmael for a 35-yard score to extend the Orange lead to 27-16. Ishmael finished the day with five receptions for 97 yards and a touchdown.

The Panthers found a way to make it interesting in the middle of the fourth quarter. Running back Qadree Ollison ran one in from 19 yards to cut the Orange lead to 27-22. Pitt converted a two-point conversion to make it a 27-24 Orange lead with 7:15 to play.

The Panthers had a chance to win it with less than a minute to play. Syracuse’s drive stalled on the Pitt 5-yard line. Syracuse went for it on 4^th and 1, but Dungey’s shovel pass to Ravian Pierce fell incomplete. The Panthers gained only 10 yards on their last-minute and final drive, and Syracuse escaped with a 27-24 victory.

The game took 3:33 to play, and 33,290 were counted inside the Carrier Dome to witness the Orange victory.

For Syracuse, Dungey went 33-49 in the air with 365 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also recorded a rushing touchdown.

Wide receiver Ravian Pierce had a career game. He registered nine catches for 99 yards for the Orange. Dontae Strickland was Syracuse’s leading rusher on Saturday. He carried the ball 25 times for 81 yards.

“They’re our rival,” Babers added. “If we’re going to play them every single year, we need to play them like a rival.”

What’s Next

The Syracuse Orange will turn around in a short week to welcome a national powerhouse into the Carrier Dome. The second-ranked Clemson Tigers will come to Syracuse for a nationally-televised contest that kicks off at 7:00pm ET Friday. The game can be viewed on ESPN.