The Syracuse Orange (4-5, 2-3 ACC) lost to #2 Clemson (9-0,6-0 ACC) Saturday, but that might not have been their worst loss of the day.
Syracuse starting quarterback Eric Dungey exited taking a hit early in the first quarter already having thrown one interception. Down by 10, the Orange could no longer stay competitive with one of the top teams in College Football. Dino Babers, as he has in the past, chose not to comment on Dungey's injury.
Backup Austin Wilson threw for 116 yards and added another two picks, including one brought back for a score by Clemson linebacker Tanner Muse to cap off the blowout defeat. Clemson ran and threw the ball effectively, doubling the Orange offense in total yards and exposing an Orange defense which had allowed less than 20 points the last two weeks.
Even after Clemson's star quarterback Deshaun Watson exited, their back-up Nick Schuessler threw the ball all over the field. The two combined to account for 5 of the 6 touchdowns on the day for the Clemson offense. The Tigers also didn't turn the ball over once all game.
The Orange punted on 8 of their drives, and had 3 interceptions contributing to the shut-out loss. One of the only bright spots on the offense was Freshman running back Moe Neal, who had 64 yards on just 7 carries. Neal would also get injured later in the game.
The country's #6 leading receiver Amba Etta-Tawo finished the game with under 100 yards for only the third time in 9 games, and without Dungey, the high paced Orange offense could never get going.
With or without a healthy Eric Dungey, Syracuse will return to the Carrier Dome next week to face ACC opponent North Carolina St. in a huge game for the Orange as the team fights to reach 6 wins to secure a spot in a bowl game this year.