Instant Juice: Syracuse 19, Miami 27

Dungey
Dungey led Syracuse to an improbable upset
Dungey
Eric Dungey threw four interceptions in the first half, but nearly led the Orange to a gutsy comeback win at Miami

A quick take on Syracuse’s frustrating 27-19 loss against Miami, on a warm (83 degrees at kickoff) and humid (78%) afternoon in suburban Miami:

WHAT HAPPENED: SU failed to defeat two Top Ten teams in consecutive games for the first time in program history, unable to come back in the second half after trailing 13-3 at halftime.  A gutsy Eric Dungey took a licking but kept ticking, guiding the Orange back in the second half more with his feet (125 yards rushing), than arm (13 of 41 for 137 yards).  Cole Murphy booted four field goals, including a career-best from 53 yards, to keep Syracuse (4-4, 2-2) in the game until the final Miami (6-0, 4-0) drive resulted in the the clinching Travis Homer 33 yard touchdown run with 2:48 to play.

» Related: Syracuse football showing improvement in all three phases

ANALYSIS: While the Orange defense again played a stout game most of the day, the offense seemed a step or two out of sync on the slippery grass field at Hard Rock Stadium, especially as compared to the fast track inside the Dome.  The depleted SU secondary, missing three starters due to injuries, struggled to contain the UM passing game in the second half.

HERO: Miami quarterback Malik Rosier was inconsistent at times, but when he needed to preserve a 20-19 lead late, he calmly led UM down the field that ended in Homer’s touchdown run and final dagger in SU’s back.  Rosier was 26 of 43 in the air for 344 yards and two touchdown passes.

ZERO: So close, yet so far to establishing another program milestone with consecutive wins over Top Ten teams, in an otherwise gallant effort to pull of the upset.  SU just couldn’t stop the Hurricanes with the game on the line in the final five minutes.

WHAT’S NEXT: Syracuse has its open week next weekend (October 28), before resuming play at Florida State on November 4.  FSU is now just 2-4 after losing Saturday at home to Louisville 31-28.  The game time and television coverage are to be announced by the ACC office on Monday, Oct. 23.

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About Brad Bierman 848 Articles
Now in his sixth decade of covering SU sports, Brad was sports director of WSYR radio for eight years into the early 1990s, then wrote the Orange Watch column for The Big Orange/The Juice print publication for 18 years. A Syracuse University graduate, Brad currently runs his own media consulting business in the Philadelphia suburbs. Follow him on Twitter @BradBierman.