Sunday Sidebar: A Special Senior Class
11/11/2018 11:00:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracuse's senior class took advantage of their last ride in the Carrier Dome Friday night.
It was a final opportunity to play in front of Orange Nation, a last shot at securing an undefeated season at home, and a final chance at redemption by beating Louisville – a team the group had never won against.
The seniors did all that and more, guiding Syracuse to a perfect Dome season with an emphatic 54-23 win over the Cardinals. It was the Orange's first win in the series since Louisville joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. Playing in front of a season-high crowd of 42,797 screaming fans, the Orange finished 6-0 in the Dome this season the fourth unbeaten home campaign in the building's history.
The Orange's Class of 2018, which includes starters Cody Conway, Antwan Cordy, Jamal Custis, Eric Dungey, Ryan Guthrie, Koda Martin, Ravian Pierce, Aaron Roberts, Chris Slayton, Dontae Strickland and Kielan Whitner, went out on top.
"Words don't do it justice," head coach Dino Babers referring to some of the challenges the group has faced. "A couple of head coaches, coordinators, players, some players that are with us, some that left who didn't have faith – belief without evidence – that we could get it done. I'm really proud of this class and the things they have been able to achieve. We will always remember the 2018 class and the season where they went undefeated at home."
As he has done throughout his career, Dungey delivered again. He threw for a touchdown and rushed for two more to extend his streak to seven straight games with a rushing score. Dungey now has 32 career touchdowns on the ground, passing Duke's Brandon Connette (31) for fifth on the ACC record list for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
His classmates on the offensive side of the ball did their part, too. Custis, Syracuse's leading receiver by yardage this season, and Pierce each hauled in a couple of passes. Strickland's hard-nosed running contributed a 326-yard team rushing effort and his consistency in pass protection kept the Louisville front seven at bay.Â
The senior defenders came through, as well. Slayton wreaked havoc in the Cardinals' backfield, finishing with 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Whitner and Guthrie, the Orange's leading tacklers this season, combined for 17 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Guthrie's nine stops and career-best 2.5 tackles for loss were team highs, while Whitner's interception inside Louisville's 40-yard line led to a Syracuse field goal.
"It's good that we could grow in our last season, have a winning season, and give this program and the fans what they deserve,"Â Whitner said.
Minutes after the win, Dungey, Custis, Pierce, Strickland, Slayton, Whitner, Guthrie and the rest of the senior class returned to the Carrier Dome turf for one final lap, greeting fans who lined up to get photos, autographs and express their appreciation.
"It was a great feeling," Custis said of the moment. "I felt a lot of love and support from a lot of loyal fans. We've been through a lot. I've been here for five years, and we've been through a lot for the past five years. For the fans to be happy for us like they were, it felt like we were a family."
For Dungey, who stepped foot on Syracuse University's campus in 2015 as an unheralded prospect and will leave as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in program history, it all seemed surreal.
"It still hasn't hit me that this is my last game in the Dome," Dungey said. "It's really been an honor."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
It was a final opportunity to play in front of Orange Nation, a last shot at securing an undefeated season at home, and a final chance at redemption by beating Louisville – a team the group had never won against.
The seniors did all that and more, guiding Syracuse to a perfect Dome season with an emphatic 54-23 win over the Cardinals. It was the Orange's first win in the series since Louisville joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014. Playing in front of a season-high crowd of 42,797 screaming fans, the Orange finished 6-0 in the Dome this season the fourth unbeaten home campaign in the building's history.
The Orange's Class of 2018, which includes starters Cody Conway, Antwan Cordy, Jamal Custis, Eric Dungey, Ryan Guthrie, Koda Martin, Ravian Pierce, Aaron Roberts, Chris Slayton, Dontae Strickland and Kielan Whitner, went out on top.
"Words don't do it justice," head coach Dino Babers referring to some of the challenges the group has faced. "A couple of head coaches, coordinators, players, some players that are with us, some that left who didn't have faith – belief without evidence – that we could get it done. I'm really proud of this class and the things they have been able to achieve. We will always remember the 2018 class and the season where they went undefeated at home."
As he has done throughout his career, Dungey delivered again. He threw for a touchdown and rushed for two more to extend his streak to seven straight games with a rushing score. Dungey now has 32 career touchdowns on the ground, passing Duke's Brandon Connette (31) for fifth on the ACC record list for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback.
His classmates on the offensive side of the ball did their part, too. Custis, Syracuse's leading receiver by yardage this season, and Pierce each hauled in a couple of passes. Strickland's hard-nosed running contributed a 326-yard team rushing effort and his consistency in pass protection kept the Louisville front seven at bay.Â
The senior defenders came through, as well. Slayton wreaked havoc in the Cardinals' backfield, finishing with 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Whitner and Guthrie, the Orange's leading tacklers this season, combined for 17 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Guthrie's nine stops and career-best 2.5 tackles for loss were team highs, while Whitner's interception inside Louisville's 40-yard line led to a Syracuse field goal.
"It's good that we could grow in our last season, have a winning season, and give this program and the fans what they deserve,"Â Whitner said.
Minutes after the win, Dungey, Custis, Pierce, Strickland, Slayton, Whitner, Guthrie and the rest of the senior class returned to the Carrier Dome turf for one final lap, greeting fans who lined up to get photos, autographs and express their appreciation.
"It was a great feeling," Custis said of the moment. "I felt a lot of love and support from a lot of loyal fans. We've been through a lot. I've been here for five years, and we've been through a lot for the past five years. For the fans to be happy for us like they were, it felt like we were a family."
For Dungey, who stepped foot on Syracuse University's campus in 2015 as an unheralded prospect and will leave as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in program history, it all seemed surreal.
"It still hasn't hit me that this is my last game in the Dome," Dungey said. "It's really been an honor."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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