Saturday, October 20
Syracuse, NY
12:20 PM
Syracuse University
vs
North Carolina
Preview: Syracuse Back Home Saturday to Face North Carolina
10/19/2018 10:00:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE (4-2, 1-2 ACC) VS. NORTH CAROLINA (1-4, 1-2 ACC)
Game Details:Â 12:20 p.m. |Â Saturday, Oct. 20
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: Raycom Sports (Affiliates)
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
North Carolina Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After two weeks on the road and an open date, Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) makes its return to the Carrier Dome to host ACC Coastal Division opponent North Carolina (1-4, 1-2 ACC) Saturday, Oct. 20 during Orange Central/Homecoming Weekend. The game will be televised on Raycom Sports, with Tom Werme (play-by-play), Dave Archer (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline reporter) on the call.
Prior to their hiatus, the Orange dropped consecutive road games at Clemson and Pittsburgh despite holding leads heading in the fourth quarter of both games. North Carolina has also lost two in a row, as well, most recently falling 22-19 to Virginia Tech on Oct. 13.
Saturday's game is an "Orange Out" and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite orange Syracuse-themed gear. The official "Orange Out" T-shirt is available at area retailers, including the Syracuse University Bookstore. Orders can also be placed through the Bookstore's website by visiting Cuse.com/OrangeOut2018.Â
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SERIES HISTORY
The Tar Heels are the last remaining ACC opponent for Syracuse to face since joining the league in 2013. Syracuse plays all the Atlantic Division teams and cross-division rival Pittsburgh each season, plus an additional Coastal Division team annually.
The Syracuse-North Carolina series is tied, 2-2. Neither side has won on its home field, and three of the four previous meetings were season-opening games (1995, 1996, 2003).Â
The teams first met in 1995 at UNC's Kenan Stadium. That initial clash marked the collegiate debut of Orange legend Donovan McNabb, who completed 10-of-16 passes for 120 yards and did not turn the ball over in the Orange's 20-9 win. The Tar Heels returned the game the following season. Syracuse and North Carolina also played a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003.
In the 2003 season opener, Syracuse defeated the Tar Heels 49-47 in triple overtime. The game is tied for the longest in program history.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
Dating back to 1949, the Orange are 40-28 (.588) all-time in Homecoming games. The record does not include the 1979 season when Syracuse did not play a game on campus due to the construction of the Carrier Dome.
The Orange are 1-1 in Homecoming games under head coach Dino Babers, losing to USF (45-20) in 2016 and defeating Pittsburgh (27-24) last season. Last year's triumph over the Panthers snapped the Orange's four-year losing streak (2013-16) on Homecoming.
Syracuse is 10-13 (.435) against conference opponents on Homecoming, including a 1-3 mark against ACC foes since joining the league in 2013.
BYE-BYE, BYE
Since 2009, Syracuse is 6-6 in games following an open week, including a 4-2 record at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse is 0-2 after bye weeks under head coach Dino Babers, with road losses at Clemson (2016) and Florida State (2017).
DYNAMIC DUO
Redshirt freshman placekicker Andre Szmyt and redshirt junior punter Sterling Hofrichter make up one of the top kicking duos in America. Syracuse is one of two schools in the FBS (LSU is the other) to have a player ranked in the top 15 in both field goals made per game (Szmyt: 1st - 2.67) and punting average (Hofricther: 14th - 45.2).
Szmyt has made 16-of-17 (.941) field goals and is 30-of-30 on PATs this year. He is first in the nation in field goals per game and points by kicking (78). He is also the first Syracuse placekicker with three 50+ field goals in the same season, connecting from 50, 51 and a career-long 54 yards.
Hofrichter, meanwhile, leads the ACC in both punting average and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (13). He is tied with Duke's Austin Parker for second in the ACC with nine punts of at least 50 yards.
SYRACUSE SACK EXCHANGE
Syracuse is averaging 4.25 sacks per game in its last three outings and is tied for seventh in the country at 3.3 sacks per outing on the year.
Junior defensive ends Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman are tied for third in the ACC with six apiece. The duo ranks second in the conference in most sacks by a pair of teammates, trailing only Boston College's Wyatt Ray (8.5) and Zach Allen (4.5) who have combined for 13.
In addition to Robinson and Coleman, sophomore defensive end Kingsley Jonathan (2.5) and senior linebacker Kielan Whitner (1.5) also have multiple sacks on the year.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina enters Saturday's contest 1-4 overall and 1-2 in ACC play. The Tar Heels have yet to win a road game and are 0-3 away from Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heels have struggled on both sides of the football, ranking 119 out of 129 FBS teams in scoring offense (20.6) and 104th in scoring defense (33.8). UNC is averaging 189.6 yards per game on the ground, with the bulk of the carries split between running backs Antonio Williams (50), Michael Carter (31) and Jordon Brown (36).
Defensively, defensive end Malik Carney leads the team with 5.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs, to go along with a pair of forced fumbles. Linebacker Cole Holcomb is the team's top tackler with 37 stops on the year, including 5.5 for a loss.
UP NEXT
The Orange are home for the second straight weekend Saturday, Oct. 27 when they host NC State in an ACC Atlantic Division showdown. The game time and television designation will be announced after this Saturday's games.
Tickets to watch the Orange and Wolfpack start at $35 and are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
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For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Game Details:Â 12:20 p.m. |Â Saturday, Oct. 20
Location: Syracuse, N.Y. | Carrier Dome
Game Links: Tickets | Listen | Watch | Live Stats
Television: Raycom Sports (Affiliates)
Radio:Â Syracuse IMG Sports NetworkÂ
Twitter: @CuseFootball | @Cuse
Syracuse Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
North Carolina Links: News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | Notes (PDF)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – After two weeks on the road and an open date, Syracuse (4-2, 1-2 ACC) makes its return to the Carrier Dome to host ACC Coastal Division opponent North Carolina (1-4, 1-2 ACC) Saturday, Oct. 20 during Orange Central/Homecoming Weekend. The game will be televised on Raycom Sports, with Tom Werme (play-by-play), Dave Archer (analyst) and Lericia Harris (sideline reporter) on the call.
Prior to their hiatus, the Orange dropped consecutive road games at Clemson and Pittsburgh despite holding leads heading in the fourth quarter of both games. North Carolina has also lost two in a row, as well, most recently falling 22-19 to Virginia Tech on Oct. 13.
Saturday's game is an "Orange Out" and fans are encouraged to wear their favorite orange Syracuse-themed gear. The official "Orange Out" T-shirt is available at area retailers, including the Syracuse University Bookstore. Orders can also be placed through the Bookstore's website by visiting Cuse.com/OrangeOut2018.Â
Â
SERIES HISTORY
The Tar Heels are the last remaining ACC opponent for Syracuse to face since joining the league in 2013. Syracuse plays all the Atlantic Division teams and cross-division rival Pittsburgh each season, plus an additional Coastal Division team annually.
The Syracuse-North Carolina series is tied, 2-2. Neither side has won on its home field, and three of the four previous meetings were season-opening games (1995, 1996, 2003).Â
The teams first met in 1995 at UNC's Kenan Stadium. That initial clash marked the collegiate debut of Orange legend Donovan McNabb, who completed 10-of-16 passes for 120 yards and did not turn the ball over in the Orange's 20-9 win. The Tar Heels returned the game the following season. Syracuse and North Carolina also played a home-and-home series in 2002 and 2003.
In the 2003 season opener, Syracuse defeated the Tar Heels 49-47 in triple overtime. The game is tied for the longest in program history.
HOMECOMING HISTORY
Dating back to 1949, the Orange are 40-28 (.588) all-time in Homecoming games. The record does not include the 1979 season when Syracuse did not play a game on campus due to the construction of the Carrier Dome.
The Orange are 1-1 in Homecoming games under head coach Dino Babers, losing to USF (45-20) in 2016 and defeating Pittsburgh (27-24) last season. Last year's triumph over the Panthers snapped the Orange's four-year losing streak (2013-16) on Homecoming.
Syracuse is 10-13 (.435) against conference opponents on Homecoming, including a 1-3 mark against ACC foes since joining the league in 2013.
BYE-BYE, BYE
Since 2009, Syracuse is 6-6 in games following an open week, including a 4-2 record at the Carrier Dome.
Syracuse is 0-2 after bye weeks under head coach Dino Babers, with road losses at Clemson (2016) and Florida State (2017).
DYNAMIC DUO
Redshirt freshman placekicker Andre Szmyt and redshirt junior punter Sterling Hofrichter make up one of the top kicking duos in America. Syracuse is one of two schools in the FBS (LSU is the other) to have a player ranked in the top 15 in both field goals made per game (Szmyt: 1st - 2.67) and punting average (Hofricther: 14th - 45.2).
Szmyt has made 16-of-17 (.941) field goals and is 30-of-30 on PATs this year. He is first in the nation in field goals per game and points by kicking (78). He is also the first Syracuse placekicker with three 50+ field goals in the same season, connecting from 50, 51 and a career-long 54 yards.
Hofrichter, meanwhile, leads the ACC in both punting average and punts downed inside the 20-yard line (13). He is tied with Duke's Austin Parker for second in the ACC with nine punts of at least 50 yards.
SYRACUSE SACK EXCHANGE
Syracuse is averaging 4.25 sacks per game in its last three outings and is tied for seventh in the country at 3.3 sacks per outing on the year.
Junior defensive ends Alton Robinson and Kendall Coleman are tied for third in the ACC with six apiece. The duo ranks second in the conference in most sacks by a pair of teammates, trailing only Boston College's Wyatt Ray (8.5) and Zach Allen (4.5) who have combined for 13.
In addition to Robinson and Coleman, sophomore defensive end Kingsley Jonathan (2.5) and senior linebacker Kielan Whitner (1.5) also have multiple sacks on the year.
SCOUTING THE TAR HEELS
North Carolina enters Saturday's contest 1-4 overall and 1-2 in ACC play. The Tar Heels have yet to win a road game and are 0-3 away from Kenan Stadium.
The Tar Heels have struggled on both sides of the football, ranking 119 out of 129 FBS teams in scoring offense (20.6) and 104th in scoring defense (33.8). UNC is averaging 189.6 yards per game on the ground, with the bulk of the carries split between running backs Antonio Williams (50), Michael Carter (31) and Jordon Brown (36).
Defensively, defensive end Malik Carney leads the team with 5.5 sacks and 7.5 TFLs, to go along with a pair of forced fumbles. Linebacker Cole Holcomb is the team's top tackler with 37 stops on the year, including 5.5 for a loss.
UP NEXT
The Orange are home for the second straight weekend Saturday, Oct. 27 when they host NC State in an ACC Atlantic Division showdown. The game time and television designation will be announced after this Saturday's games.
Tickets to watch the Orange and Wolfpack start at $35 and are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).
Â
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Players Mentioned
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