Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Orange Extra: We Have All Been Here Before
10/4/2017 9:26:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – It's Déjà vu all over again for Syracuse (2-3, 0-1 ACC) and Pittsburgh (2-3, 0-1 ACC) when the two long-time rivals square off in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Oct. 7, at 12:30 p.m. The Panthers are Syracuse's most familiar foe and Saturday's encounter will be the 73rd between the programs on the gridiron.
Pittsburgh owns a 38-31-3 edge in the series and have captured 11 of the last 12 pairings with the Orange.
The two clubs first met in 1916, a game won by the Panthers, 30-0. Syracuse and Pittsburgh have played each season since the 1955 campaign and the rivalry has been virtually deadlocked during that period. The Panthers have a slight 33-31-1 advantage over that span.
The Orange and the Panthers are two of 24 programs who have accumulated 700 all-time wins.
Both clubs seek their first ACC triumphs of 2017.
IS THAT A TYPO?
The last time Syracuse and Pittsburgh collided, on Nov. 26, 2016, the Panthers emerged with a 76-61 win. It marked the highest-scoring FBS game in history (137 combined points) and set a record for combined game touchdowns (20).
The Orange were without starting quarterback Eric Dungey, but reserve Zack Mahoney proved completely capable in Dungey's absence. Mahoney was 43-for-61 for 440 yards and tied a school standard with five touchdown throws. He also ran for 49 yards to finish with 489 yards in total offense, the second-best total at Syracuse.
Record-setting receiver Amba Etta-Tawo completed his 'Cuse career that afternoon with 13 receptions for 178 yards and five touchdowns.
WARD FOR THE DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Brian Ward has guided his unit to dramatic improvement in his second season on the Syracuse staff. The Orange have reduced their points allowed average by 14.2 per game and have cut 143.4 yards off the total defense average.
The Orange have been especially stingy on third down. Syracuse is third in the ACC and seventh nationally in third-down conversion defense (.250). Syracuse is also second in the FBS in "three-and-out" average. Ward's group has a posted 34 total three-and-outs for an average of 6.8 per game. Michigan ranks first at 7.5.
Linebacker Parris Bennett has raised the level of his play over the past two games. He tallied 12 tackles at LSU and 13 at NC State. Bennett leads the Orange with 42 total tackles.
ISHMAEL AND PHILIPS STAY BUSY
Pass-catchers Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips continued to post remarkable reception totals in last week's loss at NC State. Philips set the ACC and Syracuse single-game record for receptions with 17 for 188 yards. Ishmael had his "lowest" catch number of the year with six, but he turned those into 120 yards and a touchdown.
The duo make Syracuse the only FBS program with two players who have at least 165 career receptions. Philips (178) and Ishmael (165) rank second and third, respectively, behind Alec Lemon (201) on the Syracuse all-time ledger. Ishmael has 51 catches in five games and leads the FBS in receptions per game (10.2). Philips is third with an 8.8 mark.
ACC Single-Game Catches
NATIONAL CHAMPS VISIT THE DOME
Syracuse hosts defending national champion Clemson on Friday, Oct. 13. The contest will be televised by ESPN. The Tigers enter this upcoming weekend with an unblemished 5-0 mark and ARE ranked second in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. The game will mark the ninth time in the AP Poll era (1936-present) that Orange will take on the reigning national champs.
Tickets for Saturday's Pitt game start at $35. They are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). The game is being billed as an 'Orange Out' and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite orange Syracuse gear.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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Pittsburgh owns a 38-31-3 edge in the series and have captured 11 of the last 12 pairings with the Orange.
The two clubs first met in 1916, a game won by the Panthers, 30-0. Syracuse and Pittsburgh have played each season since the 1955 campaign and the rivalry has been virtually deadlocked during that period. The Panthers have a slight 33-31-1 advantage over that span.
The Orange and the Panthers are two of 24 programs who have accumulated 700 all-time wins.
Both clubs seek their first ACC triumphs of 2017.
IS THAT A TYPO?
The last time Syracuse and Pittsburgh collided, on Nov. 26, 2016, the Panthers emerged with a 76-61 win. It marked the highest-scoring FBS game in history (137 combined points) and set a record for combined game touchdowns (20).
The Orange were without starting quarterback Eric Dungey, but reserve Zack Mahoney proved completely capable in Dungey's absence. Mahoney was 43-for-61 for 440 yards and tied a school standard with five touchdown throws. He also ran for 49 yards to finish with 489 yards in total offense, the second-best total at Syracuse.
Record-setting receiver Amba Etta-Tawo completed his 'Cuse career that afternoon with 13 receptions for 178 yards and five touchdowns.
WARD FOR THE DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Brian Ward has guided his unit to dramatic improvement in his second season on the Syracuse staff. The Orange have reduced their points allowed average by 14.2 per game and have cut 143.4 yards off the total defense average.
The Orange have been especially stingy on third down. Syracuse is third in the ACC and seventh nationally in third-down conversion defense (.250). Syracuse is also second in the FBS in "three-and-out" average. Ward's group has a posted 34 total three-and-outs for an average of 6.8 per game. Michigan ranks first at 7.5.
Linebacker Parris Bennett has raised the level of his play over the past two games. He tallied 12 tackles at LSU and 13 at NC State. Bennett leads the Orange with 42 total tackles.
ISHMAEL AND PHILIPS STAY BUSY
Pass-catchers Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips continued to post remarkable reception totals in last week's loss at NC State. Philips set the ACC and Syracuse single-game record for receptions with 17 for 188 yards. Ishmael had his "lowest" catch number of the year with six, but he turned those into 120 yards and a touchdown.
The duo make Syracuse the only FBS program with two players who have at least 165 career receptions. Philips (178) and Ishmael (165) rank second and third, respectively, behind Alec Lemon (201) on the Syracuse all-time ledger. Ishmael has 51 catches in five games and leads the FBS in receptions per game (10.2). Philips is third with an 8.8 mark.
ACC Single-Game Catches
| Rk. | Name | Team | Opponent | No. |
| 1. | E. Philips | Syracuse | 2017 vs. NC State | 17 |
| 2. | R. Switzer | North Carolina | 2016 vs. Pittsburgh | 16 |
| S. Watkins | Clemson | 2013 vs. Ohio State | 16 | |
| M. Campanaro | WakeForest | 2013 vs. Louisiana-Monroe | 16 | |
| Q. Davis | North Carolina | 2012 vs. Virginia | 16 | |
| M. Campanaro | Wake Forest | 2012 vs. Boston College | 16 | |
| A. Pearman | Virgnia | 2003 vs. Florida State | 16 | |
| C. Thomas | Duke | 1997 vs. Georgia Tech | 16 | |
| G. Simon | Maryland | 1995 vs. Florida State | 16 | |
| C. Carr    | North Carolina | 1966 vs. Air Force | 16 |
NATIONAL CHAMPS VISIT THE DOME
Syracuse hosts defending national champion Clemson on Friday, Oct. 13. The contest will be televised by ESPN. The Tigers enter this upcoming weekend with an unblemished 5-0 mark and ARE ranked second in the Associated Press and Amway Coaches polls. The game will mark the ninth time in the AP Poll era (1936-present) that Orange will take on the reigning national champs.
Tickets for Saturday's Pitt game start at $35. They are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). The game is being billed as an 'Orange Out' and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite orange Syracuse gear.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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