Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Orange Renew Series with UConn
9/22/2016 4:05:00 PM | Football
Syracuse and Connecticut meet on the gridiron for first time since 2012
Syracuse (1-2) at Connecticut (2-1)
Game Details: Saturday, Sept. 24 | 1 p.m.
Location:Â Rentschler Field | East Hartford, Conn.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live StatsÂ
Television:Â CBS Sports Network
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Radio NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
UConn Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – For the first time in 2016, the Syracuse football team (1-2) will hit the road when it takes on Connecticut (2-1) at Rentschler Field on Saturday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Corey Chavous (analyst) and Melanie Collins (sideline) on the call.
Syracuse is looking to pick up its second victory of the season after consecutive losses. Sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey became the fourth quarterback in program history to have multiple 300-passing yard contests in a single season, throwing for 350 yards against USF last week. Redshirt senior wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo eclipsed the 100-receiving yard mark for the third straight game. Etta-Tawo's sensational start has earned him national recognition. On Wednesday, he was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, an honor presented to the nation's most outstanding receiver.
In UConn's last outing, kicker Bobby Puyol drilled a 43-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining to secure a 13-10 win against Virginia on Sept. 17. Down 10-0 early in the second quarter, the Huskies scored the game's final 13 points.
ORANGE IN ROAD OPENERS
Since 1990, the Orange own an 11-15 overall mark in road openers. The last time SU won its initial true road contest was in 2014, beating Central Michigan 40-3.Â
'Cuse head coach Dino Babers is 2-2 in true road starters, beating Maryland in 2015 while at Bowling Green and winning at San Diego State in 2013 at Eastern Illinois. (BGSU lost its 2015 opener to Tennessee at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which was classifed as a neutral-site game).
GOING LONG
The Orange have racked 16 completions of 20+ yards in three games so far this season. Last year, Syracuse managed just 23 such passing plays in 12 games.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo is responsible for more than half of those plays (9), and his 47-yard TD reception from Eric Dungey against Louisville represents SU's longest passing play of 2016.
Overall, the Orange has 27 plays of more than 20 yards this season. They are on pace for 108 plays of 20+ yards, 37 more than last year's total of 71.
DYNAMIC DUO
Junior Ervin Philips (30) and redshirt senior Amba Etta-Tawo (28) have combined for 58 of the Orange's 99 receptions in 2016 (58.9 pct.). In addition, the pair have accounted for 62 percent (670 yards) of the team's receiving yardage. Philips and Etta-Tawo are the second-most productive receiving tandem in the FBS by number of receptions. The only teammates with more than their 58 combined receptions are Zay Jones (39) and Quay Johnson (23) of East Carolina.
ELLISON PICKS UP ACC HONOR
Safety Daivon Ellison was named the Atlantic Coast Conference co-Defensive Back of the Week on Sept. 19 for his performance against USF. Ellison shared the weekly award with Louisville safety Josh Harvey-Clemons. In his first start at strong safety, Ellison notched a career-high and team-best 11 tackles. He also forced the second fumble of his career when he jarred the ball free from USF receiver Rodney Adams in the first quarter. Ellison's 11 stops were the most for an Orange defender so far this season.
UCONN AT A GLANCE
All three games for the Huskies have been decided by four points or less. UConn defeated Maine (24-21) to open the year. Lost by four (28-24) at Navy and rebounded for a 13-10 win last week against Virginia. Head coach Bob Diaco is in his third year as the Connecticut boss. He is 10-18 overall and guided the Huskies to an appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl last year.
Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs is completing better than 70 percent of his passes this season. Shirreffs is 52-for-73 with one touchdown and one interception. He is also UConn's leading rusher with 160 yards on 53 carries (3.0). Shirreffs' favorite target in the passing game is Noel Thomas. Thomas has 26 receptions for 277 yards. No one else on the UConn roster has more than seven catches.
Defensively, Obi Melifonwu leads the way with 25 tackles. A four-year starter at safety, Melifonwu was third on the team last season in tackles (88) and second in pass breakups (5). He's flanked by two experienced corners in the secondary. Junior Jamar Summers was a first-team All-AAC selection in 2015. He has eight tackles, one interception and one pass breakup so far this season. Fifth-year senior Jhavon Williams has 33 starts to his credit. Williams has 10 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Up front, defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi has been a disruptive force. Fatukasi has made 12 tackles in 2016. He's also blocked a kick. Linebacker Matt Walsh is second on the squad with 21 tackles, while fellow linebacker Luke Carrezola is tops on the Huskies with four tackles for loss.Â
SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse and Connecticut will meet for the 10th time on the gridiron on Saturday afternoon. Connecticut owns a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series (wins by SU in 2004 and 2006 were vacated by the NCAA).Â
In the teams' last matchup, Syracuse scored a 40-10 victory on Oct. 19, 2012. The win sparked a stretch where the Orange would win six of their final seven games, including a 38-14 victory against West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl.Â
In addition to meeting on the football field, Syracuse and Connecticut will resume their rivalry in men's basketball this year. The schools square off on Dec. 5 at Madison Square Garden. The Orange lead the all-time series in men's hoops, 55-37.
UP NEXT
The Orange square off with Notre Dame in the 2016 New York's College Classic at noon on Saturday, Oct. 1. The game will be televised live on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Tickets are on sale now at nycollegeclassic.com and the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX).Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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Game Details: Saturday, Sept. 24 | 1 p.m.
Location:Â Rentschler Field | East Hartford, Conn.
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live StatsÂ
Television:Â CBS Sports Network
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Radio NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
UConn Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – For the first time in 2016, the Syracuse football team (1-2) will hit the road when it takes on Connecticut (2-1) at Rentschler Field on Saturday, Sept. 24. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. The game will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network with Dave Ryan (play-by-play), Corey Chavous (analyst) and Melanie Collins (sideline) on the call.
Syracuse is looking to pick up its second victory of the season after consecutive losses. Sophomore quarterback Eric Dungey became the fourth quarterback in program history to have multiple 300-passing yard contests in a single season, throwing for 350 yards against USF last week. Redshirt senior wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo eclipsed the 100-receiving yard mark for the third straight game. Etta-Tawo's sensational start has earned him national recognition. On Wednesday, he was added to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List, an honor presented to the nation's most outstanding receiver.
In UConn's last outing, kicker Bobby Puyol drilled a 43-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining to secure a 13-10 win against Virginia on Sept. 17. Down 10-0 early in the second quarter, the Huskies scored the game's final 13 points.
ORANGE IN ROAD OPENERS
Since 1990, the Orange own an 11-15 overall mark in road openers. The last time SU won its initial true road contest was in 2014, beating Central Michigan 40-3.Â
'Cuse head coach Dino Babers is 2-2 in true road starters, beating Maryland in 2015 while at Bowling Green and winning at San Diego State in 2013 at Eastern Illinois. (BGSU lost its 2015 opener to Tennessee at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, which was classifed as a neutral-site game).
GOING LONG
The Orange have racked 16 completions of 20+ yards in three games so far this season. Last year, Syracuse managed just 23 such passing plays in 12 games.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Amba Etta-Tawo is responsible for more than half of those plays (9), and his 47-yard TD reception from Eric Dungey against Louisville represents SU's longest passing play of 2016.
Overall, the Orange has 27 plays of more than 20 yards this season. They are on pace for 108 plays of 20+ yards, 37 more than last year's total of 71.
DYNAMIC DUO
Junior Ervin Philips (30) and redshirt senior Amba Etta-Tawo (28) have combined for 58 of the Orange's 99 receptions in 2016 (58.9 pct.). In addition, the pair have accounted for 62 percent (670 yards) of the team's receiving yardage. Philips and Etta-Tawo are the second-most productive receiving tandem in the FBS by number of receptions. The only teammates with more than their 58 combined receptions are Zay Jones (39) and Quay Johnson (23) of East Carolina.
ELLISON PICKS UP ACC HONOR
Safety Daivon Ellison was named the Atlantic Coast Conference co-Defensive Back of the Week on Sept. 19 for his performance against USF. Ellison shared the weekly award with Louisville safety Josh Harvey-Clemons. In his first start at strong safety, Ellison notched a career-high and team-best 11 tackles. He also forced the second fumble of his career when he jarred the ball free from USF receiver Rodney Adams in the first quarter. Ellison's 11 stops were the most for an Orange defender so far this season.
UCONN AT A GLANCE
All three games for the Huskies have been decided by four points or less. UConn defeated Maine (24-21) to open the year. Lost by four (28-24) at Navy and rebounded for a 13-10 win last week against Virginia. Head coach Bob Diaco is in his third year as the Connecticut boss. He is 10-18 overall and guided the Huskies to an appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl last year.
Quarterback Bryant Shirreffs is completing better than 70 percent of his passes this season. Shirreffs is 52-for-73 with one touchdown and one interception. He is also UConn's leading rusher with 160 yards on 53 carries (3.0). Shirreffs' favorite target in the passing game is Noel Thomas. Thomas has 26 receptions for 277 yards. No one else on the UConn roster has more than seven catches.
Defensively, Obi Melifonwu leads the way with 25 tackles. A four-year starter at safety, Melifonwu was third on the team last season in tackles (88) and second in pass breakups (5). He's flanked by two experienced corners in the secondary. Junior Jamar Summers was a first-team All-AAC selection in 2015. He has eight tackles, one interception and one pass breakup so far this season. Fifth-year senior Jhavon Williams has 33 starts to his credit. Williams has 10 tackles and a forced fumble on the year.
Up front, defensive lineman Foley Fatukasi has been a disruptive force. Fatukasi has made 12 tackles in 2016. He's also blocked a kick. Linebacker Matt Walsh is second on the squad with 21 tackles, while fellow linebacker Luke Carrezola is tops on the Huskies with four tackles for loss.Â
SERIES HISTORY
Syracuse and Connecticut will meet for the 10th time on the gridiron on Saturday afternoon. Connecticut owns a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series (wins by SU in 2004 and 2006 were vacated by the NCAA).Â
In the teams' last matchup, Syracuse scored a 40-10 victory on Oct. 19, 2012. The win sparked a stretch where the Orange would win six of their final seven games, including a 38-14 victory against West Virginia in the Pinstripe Bowl.Â
In addition to meeting on the football field, Syracuse and Connecticut will resume their rivalry in men's basketball this year. The schools square off on Dec. 5 at Madison Square Garden. The Orange lead the all-time series in men's hoops, 55-37.
UP NEXT
The Orange square off with Notre Dame in the 2016 New York's College Classic at noon on Saturday, Oct. 1. The game will be televised live on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Tickets are on sale now at nycollegeclassic.com and the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX).Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange & Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@Cusepics, @CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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Players Mentioned
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