Sunday Sidebar: Defense Smothers CCSU

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – While the Friday night's 50-7 victory against Central Connecticut State was most certainly an offensive showcase, the Syracuse defense played lights out football to shut down the Blue Devils.

Coordinator Brian Ward's unit was eager to erase the memory of last year's finale in which it surrendered 76 points and 644 yards to Pittsburgh and did so by limiting CCSU to 167 total yards (113 passing, 54 rushing). CCSU's longest run was a 9-yard gain on third-and-10 in the second quarter and the Blue Devils managed just 1.8 yards a carry on 30 rushing attempts.

It was a team effort Friday as 24 different Orange players accounted for 51 total tackles. Sophomore Josh Black and senior Parris Bennett led the team with five tackles apiece, while Kingsley Jonathan notched his first career sack, a four-yard loss in the fourth quarter. Black's five stops were a personal best and included one the Orange's six tackles for loss.

Collectively, the Syracuse defense forced the Blue Devils to punt 12 times, one short of the Orange opponent record (13 by Holy Cross in 1968), and posted 12 three-and-outs on 16 CCSU possessions. The Orange limited Central Connecticut State to just eight first downs in the game, the fewest ever against a Dino Babers-coached team. The Blue Devils were 1-for-15 on third down, including 0-of-8 to start the game.

Perhaps more impressively, Syracuse did not allow the Blue Devils to enter the red zone the entire game. In fact, CCSU only crossed the 50-yard line twice on drives that started in its own territory. The only points for the Blue Devils came on a 24-yard TD pass from Jake Dolegala to Jose Garcia at the 11:15 make in the third quarter. Following the touchdown, the Orange forced five consecutive punts and a turnover on CCSU's next six possessions.

"I thought the defense played exceptionally well except for the one play in the end zone to stop the shutout," Babers said. "But I thought they played a really fine game."

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Players Mentioned

Parris Bennett

Josh Black

Devin M. Butler

Christopher Fredrick

Kingsley Jonathan

Syracuse University Athletics