A quick take on Syracuse’s 62-10 win over Wager in the first game of the 2018 season at the Carrier Dome:
WHAT HAPPENED: Syracuse easily dispatched its FCS opponent, scoring nearly at will in the first half. Eric Dungey threw four of his five touchdowns in the opening half, as the Orange took a 45-7 lead into intermission. Dungey played two more series in the second half, the last resulting in his fifth touchdown pass, this time a four-yard strike to Jamal Custis. In between, the Orange got some standout plays from its defense and special teams. Defensive back Andre Cisco intercepted passes on the Seahawks’ first two drives, and Sean Riley blocked a punt in the second quarter that was recovered by Trill Williams for a touchdown.
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ANALYSIS: Syracuse’s second stringers got plenty of run in the second half, with mixed results. Perhaps the most anticipated appearance came from second-string quarterback Tommy DeVito, who struggled last week against Western Michigan, and did so again against the Seahawks. DeVito played two series in relief of Dungey, completing just one of his five passes, and the Orange didn’t score. In SU’s final possession, junior Clayton Welch lined up under center but didn’t attempt a pass. Instead, SU went exclusively to the run game, with freshman running back Jarveon Howard (who has drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff), rushed 13 times for 79 yards.
HERO: Last week, Custis emerged as a top target of Dungey’s. Custis was invovled again this week, with five catches for 41 yards. He was one of eight different players to catch a pass, with Nykeim Johnson (3 receptions, 65 yards, 1 touchdown), Sean Riley (6, 54, 1) and Devin Butler (4, 37) also getting looks.
ZERO: Wagner quarterback Luke Massei started his second straight game, but was quickly pulled after he was intercepted by Cisco on the Seahawks’ first possession. He was replaced by TJ Linta, who completed seven of 14 passes for 131 yards and Wagner’s only touchdown, but was hurt in the third quarter. Third stringer Graham Lindman finished out the game.
WHAT’S NEXT: Syracuse hosts Florida State on Saturday at noon in its ACC opener.
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