#CuseTop10: Honorable Mention
12/21/2015 12:43:00 PM | Football
Cuse TV and Cuse.com begin counting down the best plays of the 2015 football season
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – As 2015 draws to a close, Cuse TV and Cuse.com will count down the top 10 plays from this year's Orange football season. One play will be featured each day starting Tuesday, Dec. 22 with the top play revealed on New Year's Eve.
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As with any list or ranking, there were a number of plays that just missed the cut. Out of those we decided to give these three honorable mention:
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WINFIELD 24-YARD INTERCEPTION RETURN TD VS. RHODE ISLAND
THE SETUP: In the 2015 season opener, Rhode Island fumbled on the opening kickoff and on its first offensive snap. After rushing twice on their second series, the Rams faced a third-and-8 at their own 14-yard-line.
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THE PLAY:Â Cornerback Corey Winfield picks off a deflected Paul Mroz pass for his first career interception and returns it 24 yards for the game's first touchdown.
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THE AFTERMATH: Winfield's pick-six ignited a 47-0 shutout of the Rams, the largest margin of victory for Syracuse in a season opener since 2000, and the team's first opening-day shutout since 1997. It was also the first of four takeaways for the Orange defense.
ESTIME 59-YARD PUNT RETURN TD AT FLORIDA STATE
THE SETUP:Â With the Seminoles ahead 45-14 in the closing minutes, Florida State punter Cason Beatty kicks to Brisly Estime on a fourth-and-9 from the Florida State 24-yard line.
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THE PLAY:Â Estime fields Beatty's 35-yard punt at his own 41 and weaves his way for a 59-yard touchdown with 1:20 to go in the contest.
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THE AFTERMATH:Â It was the first punt return touchdown allowed by the Seminoles since the 2001 season and the TD closed the scoring in a 45-21 Orange loss. For Estime, it was his second punt return TD of the year, making him the first Orange player in nearly two decades to return multiple punts for touchdowns in the same season. The play also solidified him as one of the top return men in the ACC.
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DOWELS INTERCEPTION VS. CLEMSON
THE SETUP: Trailing 31-24 against the top-ranked Tigers, Syracuse needed a stop midway through the third quarter to keep alive its bid for an upset. Clemson started the drive inside its own 15 and advanced to the SU 44-yard line where it faced a third-and-16.
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THE PLAY: Cornerback Juwan Dowels leaps and intercepts eventual Heisman finalist and Davey O'Brien Award winner Deshaun Watson at the SU 25-yard line on a pass intended for Charone Peake. The pick was the first of Dowels' career.
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THE AFTERMATH: Dowels' interception thwarted a potential Clemson scoring drive and kept it a seven-point game heading into the fourth quarter. It was also the highlight of a then-career performance for the redshirt freshman who finished with seven tackles, including his first TFL, and one pass breakup, in addition to the interception.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange& Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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As with any list or ranking, there were a number of plays that just missed the cut. Out of those we decided to give these three honorable mention:
Â
WINFIELD 24-YARD INTERCEPTION RETURN TD VS. RHODE ISLAND
THE SETUP: In the 2015 season opener, Rhode Island fumbled on the opening kickoff and on its first offensive snap. After rushing twice on their second series, the Rams faced a third-and-8 at their own 14-yard-line.
Â
THE PLAY:Â Cornerback Corey Winfield picks off a deflected Paul Mroz pass for his first career interception and returns it 24 yards for the game's first touchdown.
Â
THE AFTERMATH: Winfield's pick-six ignited a 47-0 shutout of the Rams, the largest margin of victory for Syracuse in a season opener since 2000, and the team's first opening-day shutout since 1997. It was also the first of four takeaways for the Orange defense.
ESTIME 59-YARD PUNT RETURN TD AT FLORIDA STATE
THE SETUP:Â With the Seminoles ahead 45-14 in the closing minutes, Florida State punter Cason Beatty kicks to Brisly Estime on a fourth-and-9 from the Florida State 24-yard line.
Â
THE PLAY:Â Estime fields Beatty's 35-yard punt at his own 41 and weaves his way for a 59-yard touchdown with 1:20 to go in the contest.
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THE AFTERMATH:Â It was the first punt return touchdown allowed by the Seminoles since the 2001 season and the TD closed the scoring in a 45-21 Orange loss. For Estime, it was his second punt return TD of the year, making him the first Orange player in nearly two decades to return multiple punts for touchdowns in the same season. The play also solidified him as one of the top return men in the ACC.
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DOWELS INTERCEPTION VS. CLEMSON
THE SETUP: Trailing 31-24 against the top-ranked Tigers, Syracuse needed a stop midway through the third quarter to keep alive its bid for an upset. Clemson started the drive inside its own 15 and advanced to the SU 44-yard line where it faced a third-and-16.
Â
THE PLAY: Cornerback Juwan Dowels leaps and intercepts eventual Heisman finalist and Davey O'Brien Award winner Deshaun Watson at the SU 25-yard line on a pass intended for Charone Peake. The pick was the first of Dowels' career.
Â
THE AFTERMATH: Dowels' interception thwarted a potential Clemson scoring drive and kept it a seven-point game heading into the fourth quarter. It was also the highlight of a then-career performance for the redshirt freshman who finished with seven tackles, including his first TFL, and one pass breakup, in addition to the interception.
For complete coverage of Syracuse and Syracuse football, follow us on Facebook (Syracuse Orange& Syracuse Football), Twitter (@Cuse & @CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and watch exclusive video content on Cuse TV.
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Players Mentioned
John Wildhack Interview
Wednesday, February 11
Calvin Russell Interview
Tuesday, January 13
Fran Brown Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
Syracuse Football - Signing Day Press Conference
Wednesday, December 03
