'Cuse Spring Practice Report: March 26

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange football team capped its fourth week of spring practice with its second scrimmage Saturday, March 26 at the Ensley Athletic Center. Syracuse ran 141 plays during the 85-minute scrimmage, which consisted of both thud and live tackling periods.

Head coach Dino Babers said that while he was pleased overall, there is still some fine-tuning that needs to be done during the last week of spring practice.

"There was better communication today, both offensively and defensively," Babers said. "There were still some mistakes, but I know they are correctable mistakes. I think as we move farther and farther down the road you'll see less of those on the field."

Quarterback Eric Dungey threw four touchdown passes Saturday, including two to senior wideout Brisly Estime. Reserve Zack Mahoney accounted for three scores (2 passing, 1 rushing) and freshman signal caller Rex Culpepper had one touchdown pass.

Defensively, Chris Slayton was a force on the interior. The redshirt sophomore caused two fumbles, including one that was picked up and returned for the scrimmage's first touchdown. Other takeaways by the defense included a pair of interceptions by safety Chauncey Scissum and one interception each for corners Juwan Dowels and Cordell Hudson.

The defense got the better of the offense in the early going. The Orange linebackers and defensive backs were disruptive right away, recording multiple pass breakups. Then Slayton burst through the line and tackled running back Moe Neal for a loss. On the very next play, Slayton stripped quarterback Austin Wilson from behind. The loose ball was picked up by Kenneth Ruff, who ran it back almost 50 yards for the score.

After the defense's fast start, Mahoney came in and sparked the offense. The junior completed his first four passes, including three to Jacob Hill, and capped the drive with a short TD toss to Ervin Philips.

The offense scored once more before the team stopped for a short break when Dungey connected with Dontae Strickland for a touchdown. The 2-yard TD pass was set up by a long completion down the sideline from Dungey to receiver Jamal Custis.

Early in the second half of the scrimmage, Scissum picked off Culpepper to end a drive. However, the rookie responded nicely, engineering a touchdown march that he capped with a scoring pass to tight end Kendall Moore.

Three of Dungey's TD passes were after the break, and Steve Ishmael caught two late touchdowns – one from Dungey and another from Mahoney that marked the final points of the scrimmage.

The Orange have three more practices leading up to the 2016 Syracuse Football Spring Scrimmage on Saturday, April 2 at the Carrier Dome. Start time is 11 a.m. and admission is free. All lower-level gates (A, B, C, D, E, F) open at 10 a.m.

Syracuse will hold a 'Select-A-Seat' event that day. Fans will have the opportunity to walk the Dome and choose the best available seat locations for 2016 season tickets. A sampling of available seats will be marked in each section and members of the Carrier Dome Box Office staff will be on hand to assist with the selection process and answer any questions.

Following the scrimmage, fans will be invited on the field for selfies with their favorite Syracuse players. In addition, kids in eighth grade or younger will have the opportunity to participate in a free clinic conducted by a group of Syracuse football alumni. Former players expected to be in attendance for the clinic include Chandler Jones, Jay Bromley, Jameel McClain, Rob Long and Delone Carter.

The 2016 season gets underway Friday, Sept. 2 at home against Colgate. This year's schedule features six home dates, including conference games against Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State and Florida State.

Season tickets are on sale now online, by phone (1-888-DOMETIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Tickets start at $99 ($16.50 per game) with lower-level seats in the end zones available for as little as $125.

NOTES: Linebacker Zaire Franklin broke the team down to end the scrimmage … Babers also had the squad give a round of applause for the men's and women's basketball teams, who both advanced to the Elite 8 after wins in the regional semifinals last night.

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Syracuse University Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Rex Culpepper

Jamal Custis

Juwan Dowels

Eric Dungey

Brisly Estime

Zaire Franklin

Jacob Hill

Cordell Hudson

Steve Ishmael

Zack Mahoney

Kendall Moore

Moe Neal

Ervin Philips

Kenneth Ruff

Chauncey Scissum

Chris Slayton

Dontae Strickland

Austin Wilson

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