The Syracuse Orange got back on track this past Saturday, earning a 41-17 victory over the Central Michigan Chippewas. While the defense was crucial there, the run game also took its turn as unlikely star, too. The game was still slightly uneven (including a very puzzling first quarter). But Dino Babers got the Orange back on track in the second quarter, making for an enjoyable rewatch.
Let’s jump in:
| DRIVE 1 | | Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result | 14:54 | 1st and 10 | SYR 42 | Run | Strickland | Dive L | 2 Yard Gain | 14:27 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 44 | Pocket Breakdown; Run | Dungey | End R | 5 Yard Gain | 14:00 | 3rd and 3 | SYR 49 | Run | Strickland | Dive L | 4 Yard Gain | 13:44 | 1st and 10 | CMU 47 | Pass | Ishmael | Mid Range R | 17 Yard Gain | 13:23 | 1st and 10 | CMU 30 | PENALTY (Holding) | Pierce | N/A | 10 Yard Loss | 13:23 | 1st and 20 | CMU 40 | Pass | Ishmael | Screen R | 3 Yard Gain | 13:04 | 2nd and 17 | CMU 37 | Pass | Dungey | Short M | Incomplete (Philips) | 13:00 | 3rd and 17 | CMU 37 | Play Action; Pass | Ishmael | Mid Range R | 14 Yard Gain | 12:19 | 4th and 3 | CMU 23 | Field Goal | Murphy | N/A | FG is Good | DRIVE 2 | Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result | 10:39 | 1st and 10 | SYR 16 | Run | Dungey | Off Tackle L | 3 Yard Gain | 10:14 | 2nd and 7 | SYR 19 | Run | Neal | Dive R | 3 Yard Gain | 9:39 | 3rd and 4 | SYR 22 | Pass | Philips | Short M | 10 Yard Gain | 9:22 | 1st and 10 | SYR 32 | Run | Neal | Dive R | 4 Yard Gain | 9:01 | 2nd and 6 | SYR 36 | Pass | Dungey | Deep R | Incomplete (Ishmael) | 8:52 | 3rd and 6 | SYR 36 | Pass | Dungey | Short L | Incomplete (Philips) | DRIVE 3 | Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result | 6:58 | 1st and 10 | SYR 48 | Run | Neal | Dive L | 1 Yard Gain | 6:39 | 2nd and 9 | SYR 49 | Pocket Breakdown; Run | Dungey | End R | 7 Yard Gain | 6:13 | 3rd and 2 | CMU 44 | Run | Pierre | Dive R | 0 Yard Gain; Fumble | DRIVE 4 | Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result | 5:24 | 1st and 10 | SYR 23 | Run | Dungey | Dive R | 2 Yard Gain | 4:56 | 2nd and 8 | SYR 25 | Pass | Dungey | Short R | Interception | DRIVE 5 | Time | Down | Ball | Run/Pass | Player | Direction | Result | 2:29 | 1st and 10 | SYR 36 | PENALTY (Illegal Motion) | Pierce | N/A | 5 Yard Loss | 2:22 | 1st and 15 | SYR 31 | Play Action; Pass | Dungey | Short R | Incomplete (Ishmael) | 2:06 | 2nd and 15 | SYR 31 | Run | Strickland | End R | 6 Yard Gain | 1:47 | 3rd and 9 | SYR 37 | Pass | Dungey | Mid Range R | Incomplete | Play-Call Breakdown: 12 called passes, 9 called runs Right away, you saw the offense trying to generate bigger gains, and if not for a holding call, SU would’ve scored an early touchdown too. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||