Syracuse, N.Y. – A quick take on Syracuse’s exciting and impressive 30-7 win against Florida State Saturday afternoon, in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 37,457 inside a very steamy Carrier Dome:
WHAT HAPPENED: For the first time since 1966 at Archbold Stadium, Syracuse knocked off the nemesis Seminoles with a dominant second half performance. After Eric Dungey was knocked out of the game late in the second quarter, apparently woozy and with an injured shoulder, Tommy DeVito came in and calmly led the ‘Cuse to 24 second half points, including his own three yard touchdown run and a three yard TD pass to Ravian Pierce. Andre Szmyt added three fields and the Orange defense bent but did not break in keeping FSU out of the end zone until 6:16 left in the fourth quarter.
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ANALYSIS: Don’t look now, but Syracuse (3-0, 1-0) is halfway to bowl eligibility on Sept. 15. You know it’s a good day when SU chancellor Kent Syverud thrusts his fist in the air in the press box after one of SU’s sacks of Seminoles QB Deondre Francois in the third quarter. The Orange defense was a monster holding FSU (1-2, 0-2) to 39 yards rushing when the game was on the line, and before the ‘Noles only score came in the fourth quarter.
HEROES: DeVito was effective in running the offense and guiding the Orange to three touchdowns and two field goals in the second half, finishing 11 of 16 for 144 yards in the air, with great command and pace. Hats off to the entire Orange defense in perhaps the unit’s most impressive game in six years of ACC play, giving up just 240 total yards.
ZERO: The Dome crowd was great, but not the booing when four FSU defensive players collapsed to the turf with apparent muscle cramps in the excessive heat, nearly 90 degrees, on the Field Turf. Yes, SU was driving down the field each time with its fast-paced offense, and the injuries halted some momentum, but did not necessitate booing from the crowd.
WHAT’S NEXT: Syracuse stays at home to meet Connecticut (2-1) in a non-league game, next Saturday, Sept. 22. The Huskies, under former Syracuse player and coach Randy Edsall, have struggled to score so far this season, before putting up 56 points against FCS member Rhode Island on Saturday in a back-and-forth 56-49 victory. Game Time: 4:00 p.m. ET / TV: ESPNews.
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