OFFENSIVE NOTES DEFENSIVE NOTES
Syracuse vs. Central Michigan Saturday, September 16, 2017 Post-Game Notes THE SYRACUSE WIN… • Improved the Orange’s all-time record to 4-0 against the Chippewas, including a 3-0 mark at home. • Raised Syracuse’s record to 22-8-1 all-time versus Mid-American Conference opponents. The Orange have won six consecutive games against MAC foes since a 2008 loss to Akron.
• Boosted head coach Dino Babers’ career record to 12-5 against current MAC teams. • Was the 718th victory in program history (includes 11 wins from 2004-06 that were vacated by the NCAA). • Increased Syracuse’s record to 3-2 in games played on Sept. 16. The Orange have won their last three games contested on today’s date.
OFFENSIVE NOTES • Syracuse eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for the first time since the 2016 regular-season finale at Pittsburgh. The
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team finished with 300 yards on the ground against Central Michigan, its most under head coach Dino Babers. The effort was the Orange’s best rushing performance since they racked up 312 yards against Rhode Island in the 2015 season opener. For the first time under Babers, Syracuse ran for more yards (300) than it threw for (279). The 579-yard performance marked the seventh time in Babers’ 15 games the Orange surpassed the 500-yard mark in total offense. Syracuse totaled 333 yards of offense on 25 plays in the third quarter alone, an average of 13.3 yards per play. The Orange had four players rush for at least 40 yards (Eric Dungey – 105, Moe Neal – 81, Sean Riley – 47, Dontae Strickland – 45). After recording one offensive play of 25+ yards last week against Middle Tennessee, SU tallied five such plays versus Central Michigan, including its two longest of the year – a 74-yard run by Eric Dungey and a 71-yard run by Moe Neal.
DEFENSIVE NOTES • The Orange intercepted two passes against Central Michigan on Saturday. It was the first time the club had notched multiple interceptions in a game since Nov. 12, 2016 against NC State.
• With sophomore safety Evan Foster’s 24-yard interception return for a score, the Orange have scored 10 defensive touchdowns in their past 38 contests. Syracuse has at least one pick-six in each of the last four seasons.
• Central Michigan became the first Syracuse opponent to convert a third-down attempt in the first half this season.
Central Connecticut State and Middle Tennessee were a combined 0-for-14 on first-half, third-down tries. Overall, Syracuse’s foes are 1-for-20 on third down in the first half of games this season. • After allowing 17 points in the opening two quarters, Syracuse shut out the Chippewas in the second half. It was the second scoreless half of football for the Orange defense in 2017. Syracuse blanked Central Connecticut State in the first half of the season opener.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES • Senior wide receiver Steve Ishmael became the seventh player in program history to record at least 100 receiving yards
in three straight games. Ishmael finished with eight receptions for a career-high 139 yards on the against Central Michigan to join Amba Etta-Tawo, Tommy Kane, Rob Moore, Marvin Harrison, Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon as players who have achieved the feat. • Junior quarterback Eric Dungey completed 19-of-35 passes, including a pair of touchdowns. He ranks sixth on the Orange career passing touchdowns list with 31. Dungey trails Troy Nunes (32) for fifth place. • Dungey ran 11 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was the second 100-yard rushing game of his career. Dungey now has 15 rushing touchdowns in his career, four shy of the Syracuse quarterback career rushing touchdown record held by Bill Hurley (19, 1975-79) and Donovan McNabb (19, 1995-98). Dungey broke free for a career-best, 74-yard run in the third quarter, the longest play from scrimmage for Syracuse so far this season. • Senior kicker Cole Murphy converted two field goals (41 yards, 25 yards). Murphy is sixth in program history with 46 career field goals made.
• Sophomore wide receiver Sean Riley returned two kickoffs for 98 yards against the Chippewas and now ranks seventh in Syracuse history with 1,338 career kickoff return yards.
• Riley finished with a career-best 247 all-purpose yards (98 KOR, 82 receiving, 47 rushing, 20 PR) on 13 touches. • Punter Sterling Hofrichter averaged a career-high 51 yards on seven punts. He did not allow a Central Michigan return and booted a 64-yarder in the first quarter.
• Defensive end Kendall Coleman posted a career-high nine tackles. MISCELLANEOUS • Down 17-10 with 7:52 remaining in the second quarter, Syracuse outscored Central Michigan 31-0 over the remainder • • • • • • •
of the contest. It marked the most unanswered points for the Orange since the 2016 season opener against Colgate when they scored the final 33 points of the game. Junior quarterback Eric Dungey gashed the Central Michigan defense for a career-long, 74-yard run in the third quarter. It marked the longest run by a Syracuse player since Jordan Fredericks’ 75-yard touchdown run at NC State in 2015. Redshirt senior linebacker Austin Valdez forced his second fumble of the season to thwart a fourth-quarter Central Michigan scoring drive. Cornerback Scoop Bradshaw recovered. Junior tight end Ravian Pierce hauled in a 6-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, the second TD reception of his Syracuse career. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Christopher Fredrick notched his second career interception. Sophomore defensive end Alton Robinson made his first start in an Orange uniform and logged one tackle and two quarterback hurries. Sophomore defensive lineman Kenneth Ruff returned the first kickoff of his collegiate career, taking it back 15 yards to the Syracuse 36-yard line in the first quarter. Neither team recorded a sack in the game, a first in a contest involving the Orange since 2012 versus Stony Brook.
GAME CAPTAINS Cole Murphy (special teams), Ervin Philips (offense) and Jonathan Thomas (defense) served as game captains against Central Michigan.
ATTENDANCE 33,004 COIN TOSS Central Michigan won the toss and deferred to the second half. Syracuse received the opening kickoff.
• Boosted head coach Dino Babers’ career record to 12-5 against current MAC teams. • Was the 718th victory in program history (includes 11 wins from 2004-06 that were vacated by the NCAA). • Increased Syracuse’s record to 3-2 in games played on Sept. 16. The Orange have won their last three games contested on today’s date.
OFFENSIVE NOTES • Syracuse eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for the first time since the 2016 regular-season finale at Pittsburgh. The
• • • •
team finished with 300 yards on the ground against Central Michigan, its most under head coach Dino Babers. The effort was the Orange’s best rushing performance since they racked up 312 yards against Rhode Island in the 2015 season opener. For the first time under Babers, Syracuse ran for more yards (300) than it threw for (279). The 579-yard performance marked the seventh time in Babers’ 15 games the Orange surpassed the 500-yard mark in total offense. Syracuse totaled 333 yards of offense on 25 plays in the third quarter alone, an average of 13.3 yards per play. The Orange had four players rush for at least 40 yards (Eric Dungey – 105, Moe Neal – 81, Sean Riley – 47, Dontae Strickland – 45). After recording one offensive play of 25+ yards last week against Middle Tennessee, SU tallied five such plays versus Central Michigan, including its two longest of the year – a 74-yard run by Eric Dungey and a 71-yard run by Moe Neal.
DEFENSIVE NOTES • The Orange intercepted two passes against Central Michigan on Saturday. It was the first time the club had notched multiple interceptions in a game since Nov. 12, 2016 against NC State.
• With sophomore safety Evan Foster’s 24-yard interception return for a score, the Orange have scored 10 defensive touchdowns in their past 38 contests. Syracuse has at least one pick-six in each of the last four seasons.
• Central Michigan became the first Syracuse opponent to convert a third-down attempt in the first half this season.
Central Connecticut State and Middle Tennessee were a combined 0-for-14 on first-half, third-down tries. Overall, Syracuse’s foes are 1-for-20 on third down in the first half of games this season. • After allowing 17 points in the opening two quarters, Syracuse shut out the Chippewas in the second half. It was the second scoreless half of football for the Orange defense in 2017. Syracuse blanked Central Connecticut State in the first half of the season opener.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES • Senior wide receiver Steve Ishmael became the seventh player in program history to record at least 100 receiving yards
in three straight games. Ishmael finished with eight receptions for a career-high 139 yards on the against Central Michigan to join Amba Etta-Tawo, Tommy Kane, Rob Moore, Marvin Harrison, Marcus Sales and Alec Lemon as players who have achieved the feat. • Junior quarterback Eric Dungey completed 19-of-35 passes, including a pair of touchdowns. He ranks sixth on the Orange career passing touchdowns list with 31. Dungey trails Troy Nunes (32) for fifth place. • Dungey ran 11 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was the second 100-yard rushing game of his career. Dungey now has 15 rushing touchdowns in his career, four shy of the Syracuse quarterback career rushing touchdown record held by Bill Hurley (19, 1975-79) and Donovan McNabb (19, 1995-98). Dungey broke free for a career-best, 74-yard run in the third quarter, the longest play from scrimmage for Syracuse so far this season. • Senior kicker Cole Murphy converted two field goals (41 yards, 25 yards). Murphy is sixth in program history with 46 career field goals made.
• Sophomore wide receiver Sean Riley returned two kickoffs for 98 yards against the Chippewas and now ranks seventh in Syracuse history with 1,338 career kickoff return yards.
• Riley finished with a career-best 247 all-purpose yards (98 KOR, 82 receiving, 47 rushing, 20 PR) on 13 touches. • Punter Sterling Hofrichter averaged a career-high 51 yards on seven punts. He did not allow a Central Michigan return and booted a 64-yarder in the first quarter.
• Defensive end Kendall Coleman posted a career-high nine tackles. MISCELLANEOUS • Down 17-10 with 7:52 remaining in the second quarter, Syracuse outscored Central Michigan 31-0 over the remainder • • • • • • •
of the contest. It marked the most unanswered points for the Orange since the 2016 season opener against Colgate when they scored the final 33 points of the game. Junior quarterback Eric Dungey gashed the Central Michigan defense for a career-long, 74-yard run in the third quarter. It marked the longest run by a Syracuse player since Jordan Fredericks’ 75-yard touchdown run at NC State in 2015. Redshirt senior linebacker Austin Valdez forced his second fumble of the season to thwart a fourth-quarter Central Michigan scoring drive. Cornerback Scoop Bradshaw recovered. Junior tight end Ravian Pierce hauled in a 6-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, the second TD reception of his Syracuse career. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Christopher Fredrick notched his second career interception. Sophomore defensive end Alton Robinson made his first start in an Orange uniform and logged one tackle and two quarterback hurries. Sophomore defensive lineman Kenneth Ruff returned the first kickoff of his collegiate career, taking it back 15 yards to the Syracuse 36-yard line in the first quarter. Neither team recorded a sack in the game, a first in a contest involving the Orange since 2012 versus Stony Brook.
GAME CAPTAINS Cole Murphy (special teams), Ervin Philips (offense) and Jonathan Thomas (defense) served as game captains against Central Michigan.
ATTENDANCE 33,004 COIN TOSS Central Michigan won the toss and deferred to the second half. Syracuse received the opening kickoff.
