The Syracuse Orange (4-6, 2-4 ACC) head back to the Dome on Saturday, November 19, when they face off against Jimbo Fisher’s No. 17 Florida State Seminoles (7-3, 4-3 ACC) in Syracuse’s last home game of the season. The Orange’s only hopes of clinching a bowl game birth is to beat ranked FSU at home on Saturday and Pittsburgh on the road the following week and hit the .500 mark once again.
The Orange looked pretty good in the first quarter last weekend against NC State, but despite throwing for a career-high 190 yards, backup quarterback Zack Mahoney couldn't lift the Orange over the Wolfpack, falling 20-35. Mahoney took starting sophomore Eric Dungey’s spot on the field, who was sidelined with a concussion. Dungey has been considered doubtful to play this weekend according to SU head coach Dino Babers, although his status is still unknown.
"All medical decisions are always with the doctor. In my brief tenure as a head football coach, it's something, you're not allowed to cross the line. They'll tell us if they guys can play, they'll tell us if they can't. They'll tell us if he's out a play or a quarter. And when they tell us he's back available, then I get to decide whether I want to put him back in once he's available. But, when they're taken out it's always the medical team," says SU head coach Dino Babers on team injuries and the medical team clearing players.
Starting junior wide receiver Steve Ishmael was also missed on the field on Saturday, recovering from an injury suffered the previous week at Clemson. Ishmael is expected to be back on the field this weekend.
There are reasons to be skeptical of the Orange pulling out an upset over No.17 Florida State, but it wouldn't be the first time they would have beaten a No.17 team this season, previously upsetting then-ranked No.17 Virginia Tech 31-17. Of course Dungey was playing and happened to give another great performance, leading the team in rushing yards for a season-high 106 yards, as well as 311 pass yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 sack. Dungey leaves big cleats to fill this week and many are skeptical the Orange are capable of pulling out another upset over a ranked team.
FSU is coming into the Dome this week with only 2 games left in the season as well, and with somewhat of a disappointing season this year, the Seminoles go into Saturday looking to make things right before heading into the postseason. Although standout redshirt freshman QB Deondre Francois suffered a right shoulder contusion and had to leave last week’s 45-7 blowout game against Boston College, he is not expected to miss a beat against the Orange, returning to the turf on Saturday.
Not only will the young Francois and his mere 2,675 yards and 15 touchdown passes be visiting the Dome, be he will also be joined by junior running back Dalvin Cook, who has already rushed for 1,242 yards and 13 touchdowns this season.
"You know he's really good. The guy is, with that kind of speed and that kind of moves, he's a very very dynamic back. He's gotta be one of the top backs in the country. I hope he's a junior or senior so I don't have to see him that much. Is he a senior? I hope he's older cause he's really really good," comments coach Babers on FSU running back Dalvin Cook.
SU vs. Florida State Saturday @ 3:30 PM. Countdown to kickoff 3 PM on WAER 88.3
The Orange will look to backup QB Mahoney this weekend as they try to muster up a win in their final chance to keep their bowl game dreams alive.