Orange

All Malik Willis ever wanted was an opportunity to play. This Saturday, the dual threat quarterback gets his first start against a power five school when he and the 4-0 Liberty Flames march into the Dome to play 1-3 Syracuse.

Years ago, the signal caller could have never imagined he would wait this long to start against a big conference school. Willis committed to Auburn in the winter of 2017, but he never found solid footing in the starting rotation – stuck behind current New England Patriots backup Jarrett Stidham.

In the first game under the newly renovated Dome roof, the Syracuse defense intercepted Georgia Tech four times en route to their first win of the 2020 season by a score of 37-20. 

After a 30-minute delay due to confirmation on COVID-19 testing results and an Andre Cisco pregame injury that prevented him from playing, the Orange offense delivered their best punch early in the game. Freshman running back, Sean Tucker, carried the offense early rushing for 73 yards and two touchdowns 

  in the first quarter. 

As the 2019 College Football season reaches its halfway point, the Syracuse Orange (3-3, 0-2), have many questions left to answer.

Which Tommy DeVito can we count on going forward, the healthy one who racked up nearly 400 total yards and five touchdowns against Western Michigan, or the injury-prone one who has a 12:5 touchdown to interception ratio and two costly red zone picks? 

As time expired, Cole Murphy's 35-yard field goal attempt sailed through the uprights, clinching a 20-17 victory for Syracuse over Boston College at the Carrier Dome on Saturday. The Orange stormed the field, but head coach Scott Shafer -- coaching his final game at Syracuse -- stood on the sideline and didn't move for a moment.

For the second time in two seasons, Syracuse's defense will be opposed by quarterback Everett Golson. In September 2014, when Golson played for Notre Dame, he went 32-of-39 for 362 yards and four touchdowns as the Fighting Irish topped the Orange, 31-15, on a Saturday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Through five games played in 2015, Eric Dungey has been -- statistically speaking -- one of the best quarterbacks in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He leads it in passer rating and yards per attempt. He's also thrown nine touchdowns to just one interception.

Dungey has succeeded by using a combination of his arm and legs, a rare quarterback who's efficient in both areas. But he's about to face his biggest test yet this season on Saturday. That's when Syracuse will welcome Pittsburgh to the Carrier Dome at noon.