Syracuse head coach Dino Babers designed the Orange’s new, revamped offense to win games just like this one. They didn’t.
The Syracuse Orange (2-3) were defeated by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (2-3) by a score of 50-27 Saturday in a game of big plays.
The game was very competitive in the first half, where the two teams combined for 727 yards of total offense, including 437 in the first quarter alone. This was to be expected as Syracuse’s defensive woes this season are well documented and Notre Dame fired their defensive coordinator days before the game Saturday.
Notre Dame started off the game with a 79-yard touchdown strike on the first play to their Big play weapon, Equanimeous St. Brown, who caught a deep crossing route and, after a long run, broke a tackle before striding in to the end zone.
That play was a snapshot of the day for the Orange. They tried to catch up in terms of big plays, but the Fighting Irish ultimately broke that last arm tackle and pulled away every time. Brown torched the Syracuse defense Saturday, finishing the day with 182 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions.
The Orange stormed back down the field though in under two minutes to score a touchdown right back on a quarterback keeper. Syracuse QB Eric Dungey faked a pitch to leave two Notre Dame defenders flat-footed on the goal line and powered the ball in to put up six. The extra point was blocked by Notre Dame and returned for a defensive two-point conversion, however, to put the game at 9-6.
The two offenses traded long touchdown passes but the Irish delivered a huge blow when receiver C.J. Sanders returned a kick 92 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.
With under a minute left in the half, Syracuse tried to fight back. Receiver Ervin Phillips caught a touchdown following a long punt return, then after an interception, Syracuse had a makeable field goal chance to put the game within three, which kicker Cole Murphy hooked to the left.
The game slowed down in the second half and despite another phenomenal game from Eric Dungey, who rushed for three touchdowns and threw for two more, the Orange defense simply couldn’t hold up, giving up nearly 500 yards through the air to Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer, who also threw for three touchdowns.
With Eric Dungey performing at an incredibly high level, currently 7th in the nation in passing yards, the Syracuse defense will need to refocus as they face Wake Forest (4-0), a team averaging 200 yards per game on the ground while relinquishing less than 100 yards on the ground per game.
Clemson and FSU are coming up late in the year, meaning Babers and Dungey will lead the Orange into Wake Forest facing a near must-win situation if the Orange are going to make a bowl game this season.