Freshmen Lead Orange Past Rams

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – When fans poured into the Carrier Dome for Friday's season opener, they witnessed some unfamiliar faces playing key roles for the Orange.

However, the freshmen wouldn't disappoint the Dome faithful as quarterback Eric Dungey and the running back trio of Jordan Fredericks, Dontae Strickland and Jacob Hill stole the show for the Syracuse, which rolled to a 47-0 win over Rhode Island.

Syracuse's talented first-year players accounted for 359 total yards of offense, 84 percent of the team's 426 total yards.

After senior quarterback Terrel Hunt was injured midway through the first quarter, Dungey was called upon to lead the 'Cuse offense and didn't miss a beat. The Lake Oswego, Ore. product completed 10-of-17 passes for 114 yards and threw two touchdowns to sophomore Ervin Phillips.

"It was all the other guys," Dungey said. "I mean, they were all picking me up and keeping me calm. I really wasn't expecting to go in that early. We're so tight-knit, working hard. We've been here since July together building a relationship. We just want to win. We're competitors."

Dungey joined AJ Long as the only true freshmen in program history to throw a touchdown pass in their debut. Dungey's first career pass attempt went for a 32-yard touchdown to the sophomore hybrid back Philips.

Dungey didn't do it alone though, the rookie got plenty of help from his classmates in the run game.

The duo of Fredericks and Strickland became the first Syracuse true freshmen running backs to run for touchdowns in a season opener in 13 years. The last one to do so was Damien Rhodes in 2002 against BYU.

Fredericks made his presence known with the first carry of his collegiate career, breaking off a 31-yard gain. The 2014 Gatorade New York State Player of the Year out of Inwood, N.Y. ran for a game-high 103 yards on just 14 carries (7.4 avg.).

"I'm truly grateful for what I've done tonight," Fredericks said. "I just want to thank my offensive lineman like I always do. They created the holes like always and I just used my feet and got the job done."

Fredericks also praised the play of Dungey under center.

"He stepped up," Fredericks said. "He was assertive. He made the right calls at the line and it just felt like he'd been here two years already running this offense."

Strickland played a critical role in the season's first play, recovering a fumble on the opening kickoff after the ball was jarred loose by Ryan Norton. Strickland finished with 42 yards on two carries, including a 21-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that closed the scoring.

Hill had a team-high 17 carries for 75 yards, shouldering much of the second-half load for the Orange.

The Orange's talented rookie class looks to continue its success on Saturday, Sept. 12 when Syracuse welcomes Wake Forest to the Carrier Dome. The Orange and Demon Deacons are scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

Tickets are available online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). In addition, discounted group tickets (20 or more) for all home games can be purchased by calling 315-443-3212.

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Players Mentioned

Eric Dungey

Jordan Fredericks

Jacob Hill

Terrel Hunt

AJ Long

Ryan Norton

Ervin Philips

Dontae Strickland

Syracuse University Athletics