Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Orange Extra: Running With 'Pack
9/27/2017 8:48:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse begins the Atlantic Coast Conference portion of its schedule when it plays in Raleigh, N.C., on Saturday against NC State. The Orange, 2-2 overall, are coming off a 35-26 loss at LSU. The Wolfpack are 3-1 and 1-0 in the ACC after winning at Florida State, 27-21.
The Orange have put together a 14-12 overall record in conference (BIG EAST, ACC) openers over the years. This marks the first time Syracuse has its league starter on the road since 2010.
RUNNING WITH THE WOLFPACK
The matchup with NC State has historically been unfavorable for the Orange. The clubs have met 10 times previously and the Wolfpack have claimed nine of those pairings.
The lone Syracuse win was a 24-10 victory at NC State in 2013. In that instance, the game was knotted at 10-10 with 10:12 left in the contest. The Orange struck quickly after that, scoring on Prince-Tyson Gulley's 18-yard run and an 8-yard touchdown trot by Terrel Hunt. Gulley set up the second score with a 48-yard dash. Syracuse, with 100-yard rushing efforts from Jerome Smith (140 yards) and Gulley (132 yards) finished the game with 362 yards on the ground, an Orange single-game record versus an ACC foe. It was also Syracuse's first victory in its new conference.
The Wolfpack have won the last three meetings: 24-17 at Syracuse in 2014, 42-29 in Raleigh in 2015, and 35-20 a year ago in the Dome.
NC State began the series with six straight triumphs, a streak that started in 1972.
Perhaps the most exciting game in the series was the 1997 battle in the Dome. The Orange entered the game ranked No. 13Â on the heels of a convincing, 34-0 victory against Wisconsin in the Kickoff Classic. After Donovan McNabb teamed with Roland Williams on a touchdown pass in overtime, NC State answered with a score of its own. The Wolfpack then went for two and converted, earning the 32-31 upset.
TWO OF THE TOP FBS PASS-CATCHERS MEET
Saturday's encounter between Syracuse and NC State will feature two of the most productive pass catchers in the FBS ranks this season. Orange senior Steve Ishmael leads the nation in catches per game (11.3). The Wolfpack counters with Jaylen Samuels, a senior all-purpose performer who is hauling in an average of 9.5 balls per game to rank third.
Ishmael also leads the nation in total catches (45). He has 512 total receiving yards, the third highest total in the FBSI. Ishmael is sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (128.0) and his 45 catches are three behind the career-high 48 he hauled in last season.
Two other ranked receivers are sure to be active Saturday, as well. Syracuse senior Ervin Philips had 11 catches against LSU last weekend and is averaging 6.8 receptions per contest, good for 21st in the country. NC State's Kelvin Harmon is tied for 32nd at 6.3 receptions per game.
Ishmael was one of 10 receivers added yesterday to the 2017 Biletnikoff Award Watch List by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The award is presented to the nation's top receiver. Ishmael's inclusion gives the Orange two players on the watch list, as Philips was named to it before the season.
FBS RECEPTIONS PER GAME
A LOOK AHEAD AT RETURNING TO THE DOME
Syracuse's two-game stretch of road matchups comes to an end after the NC State contest and the Orange will then be back in the Dome for two straight marquee matchups. First up is Pittsburgh on Oct. 7. The Panthers are Syracuse's most familiar ACC rival with 72 games between the two over the years. The following Friday (Oct. 13), defending national champion Clemson visits the Loud House.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
The Orange have put together a 14-12 overall record in conference (BIG EAST, ACC) openers over the years. This marks the first time Syracuse has its league starter on the road since 2010.
RUNNING WITH THE WOLFPACK
The matchup with NC State has historically been unfavorable for the Orange. The clubs have met 10 times previously and the Wolfpack have claimed nine of those pairings.
The lone Syracuse win was a 24-10 victory at NC State in 2013. In that instance, the game was knotted at 10-10 with 10:12 left in the contest. The Orange struck quickly after that, scoring on Prince-Tyson Gulley's 18-yard run and an 8-yard touchdown trot by Terrel Hunt. Gulley set up the second score with a 48-yard dash. Syracuse, with 100-yard rushing efforts from Jerome Smith (140 yards) and Gulley (132 yards) finished the game with 362 yards on the ground, an Orange single-game record versus an ACC foe. It was also Syracuse's first victory in its new conference.
The Wolfpack have won the last three meetings: 24-17 at Syracuse in 2014, 42-29 in Raleigh in 2015, and 35-20 a year ago in the Dome.
NC State began the series with six straight triumphs, a streak that started in 1972.
Perhaps the most exciting game in the series was the 1997 battle in the Dome. The Orange entered the game ranked No. 13Â on the heels of a convincing, 34-0 victory against Wisconsin in the Kickoff Classic. After Donovan McNabb teamed with Roland Williams on a touchdown pass in overtime, NC State answered with a score of its own. The Wolfpack then went for two and converted, earning the 32-31 upset.
TWO OF THE TOP FBS PASS-CATCHERS MEET
Saturday's encounter between Syracuse and NC State will feature two of the most productive pass catchers in the FBS ranks this season. Orange senior Steve Ishmael leads the nation in catches per game (11.3). The Wolfpack counters with Jaylen Samuels, a senior all-purpose performer who is hauling in an average of 9.5 balls per game to rank third.
Ishmael also leads the nation in total catches (45). He has 512 total receiving yards, the third highest total in the FBSI. Ishmael is sixth nationally in receiving yards per game (128.0) and his 45 catches are three behind the career-high 48 he hauled in last season.
Two other ranked receivers are sure to be active Saturday, as well. Syracuse senior Ervin Philips had 11 catches against LSU last weekend and is averaging 6.8 receptions per contest, good for 21st in the country. NC State's Kelvin Harmon is tied for 32nd at 6.3 receptions per game.
Ishmael was one of 10 receivers added yesterday to the 2017 Biletnikoff Award Watch List by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation. The award is presented to the nation's top receiver. Ishmael's inclusion gives the Orange two players on the watch list, as Philips was named to it before the season.
FBS RECEPTIONS PER GAME
| 1. | Steve Ishmael | Syracuse | 11.3 |
| 2. | John Ursua | Hawaii | 10.0 |
| 3. | Jaylen Samuels | NC State | 9.5 |
| 4. | Keke Coutee | Texas Tech | 9.3 |
| James Williams | Washington State | 9.3 |
A LOOK AHEAD AT RETURNING TO THE DOME
Syracuse's two-game stretch of road matchups comes to an end after the NC State contest and the Orange will then be back in the Dome for two straight marquee matchups. First up is Pittsburgh on Oct. 7. The Panthers are Syracuse's most familiar ACC rival with 72 games between the two over the years. The following Friday (Oct. 13), defending national champion Clemson visits the Loud House.
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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