Early Scores, Late Pick Lead Orange Past UConn

Saturday, September 24

East Hartford, CT

1 pm

Syracuse University

2-2

Connecticut

2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Connecticut

9/24/2016 1:32:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Etta-Tawo shatters school single-game record for receiving yardage

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – A game that opened with typical Syracuse offensive pyrotechnics was ultimately secured by the Orange defense as Syracuse (2-2) snapped its eight-game road losing streak with a 31-24 victory against Connecticut (2-2) Saturday, Sept. 24 at Rentschler Field.

Eric Dungey and Amba Etta-Tawo teamed up on two long touchdown passes in the first 4:12 of the game, and Cordell Hudson returned an interception 22 yards for a score near the end of the third quarter. The Orange also got a key defensive stop on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line to hold off the Huskies.

Etta-Tawo finished with a school-record 270 yards receiving on 12 receptions, including touchdown catches of 57 and 30 yards. He broke the previous single-game mark of 249 yards set by Scott Schwedes against Boston College in 1985. In addition, Etta-Tawo joined North Carolina State's Torry Holt (1998) and Florida State's Craphonso Thorpe as the only receivers in the history of the Atlantic Coast Conference with two 200-yard receiving games in the same season. He racked up 210 yards versus Colgate in the season opener.

Etta-Tawo has eclipsed the 100-yard receiving plateau in all four games this season. He is the second player in school history with four consecutive 100-yard games and first to accomplish the feat during one season.

The Orange opened the game's scoring when Dungey connected with Etta-Tawo on a 57-yard touchdown less than a minute into the contest. On SU's next possession, the two hooked up again, this time on a 30-yard scoring play. By the end of the second series, Dungey was 5-of-6 for 118 yards – all to Etta-Tawo –and Cole Murphy's two extra points had the visitors in front, 14-0.

After dominating the first quarter, Connecticut turned the tables on the Orange in the second period. The Huskies put together three time-consuming drives, and scored touchdowns on their last two possessions of the half to knot the contest at 14-14. Connecticut had the ball for 10:32 in the second quarter and registered drives of of 12, 12 and nine plays. Ron Johnson scored first, on a 2-yard plunge, and Arkeel Newsome ran into the end zone from six yards out with 34 seconds left in the half. Bobby Puyol's two PATs tied the score.

On the final series of the first half, the Orange took over on their own 26. Dungey found Etta-Tawo for 24 yards, then hit Donte Strickland for 13 and Steve Ishmael for seven before head coach Dino Babers called timeout with two ticks remaining and the ball on the Connecticut 30. After two Connecticut timeouts, Murphy drilled a 47-yard field goal on the last play before the intermission to push Syracuse back in front, 17-14.

In the third quarter, Puyol tied the scored on a 27-yard field goal with 5:11 remaining in the period. Then Hudson got an assist from linebacker Zaire Franklin to put Syracuse in the lead again. With Connecticut facing third-and-8 from its own 8-yard line, quarterback Bryant Shirreffs had his pass tipped by Franklin into the waiting hands of Hudson, who ran the ball to paydirt with 49 seconds to go in the quarter. Murphy's point after made the score 24-17 Orange.

Connecticut had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the fourth quarter after pulling off a successful fake field goal. On fourth-and-3 from the SU 25, holder Tyler Davis took the snap and threw to an open Tommy Myers for 17 yards and a first down at the Syracuse 8-yard line. Three straight running plays moved the ball down to the SU 2. On fourth-and-goal, Shirreffs was stuffed by Franklin and the Huskies turned the ball over on downs.

The defensive stand allowed Dungey and Etta-Tawo to go to work again. In the shadow of their own goal line, the Orange converted a third-and-7 when Dungey connected with Etta-Tawo on a 59-yard pass and catch. Dungey ultimately finished off his team's longest series of the game by keeping on the option scoring from six yards out. The game-clinching march was 12 plays, covering 99 yards and took 3:58 off the game clock.

A 24-yard touchdown pass from Shirreffs to Tyler Davis with 33 seconds left narrowed the gap to 31-24, but the Huskies' ensuing onside kick was recovered by Brisly Estime and Syracuse ran out the clock for its first road win against UConn.

Dungey completed 26-of-40 for a career-high 407 yards and two touchdowns. Ervin Phillips had six catches for 55 yards. Strickland led all Syracuse rushers with 55 yards on 14 carries.

Franklin, Parris Bennett and Daivon Ellison all set career bests with 14 tackles apiece to pace the Orange defense. Franklin's total included 2.5 tackles for a loss.

Shirreffs finished the game 27-for-45 passing for 264 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He also rushed 21 times for 27 yards. Shirreffs' favorite target was Noel Thomas who tied Eric Page of Toledo for the most receptions by an opposing player against Syracuse. Thomas caught 14 passes for 111 yards.

The Orange returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 1 versus Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Kickoff is set for noon. Tickets for the game are on sale now at nycollegeclassic.com and the Carrier Dome Box Office (888-DOMETIX).

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