Still can’t breathe.
The Syracuse Orange went down to Tallahassee with a decent amount of momentum. However, the beleaguered Florida State Seminoles took home the win, 27-24. That drops SU to 4-5 on the season (and 2-3 in the ACC).
Syracuse didn’t play poorly, but was derailed early by an Eric Dungey injury (and an interception). Without the starting quarterback, the offense sputtered in the first quarter and quickly fell behind 14-0.
The team was able to battle back and make it 21-14 at the half, behind two touchdown passes by Eric Dungey. But an uncharacteristically sluggish third quarter derailed SU’s comeback attempt, despite the defense holding Florida state to just six points over the final 30 minutes.
It wasn’t all good news for the D, though. Cam Akers ran for about 200 yards, carrying the load for a hot-and-cold Florida State offense. He added two touchdowns while averaging nine yards per rush.
But the third down defense remained a strength. FSU was just 1-of-12 on third.
Offensively, Syracuse relied heavily on Dungey, both through the air and on the ground. He accounted for three touchdowns (one rushing), with 278 yards through the air and 109 on the ground. Again, he was injured for nearly the entire game, yet still put up those numbers.
Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips each caught a boat load of passes -- 12 apiece. Philips’s receptions gave him the new Syracuse career record, previously held by Alec Lemon.
Syracuse did manage to cut the lead to three with a little under three minutes to go, but a failed onside kick gave the ball back to FSU. On a third-and-1 attempt, the ‘Noles fumbled, however, they retained possession, then punted.
The Orange drove quickly down the field, but Cole Murphy missed a field goal as time expired.
Obviously, the missed field goal in the first half and the decision to go for it rather than kick late in the second quarter.
Highlights
