Recap: Dungey Leads No. 22 Syracuse to 41-24 Win at Wake Forest

Saturday, November 3

Winston-Salem, NC

12 PM

Syracuse University

7-2 , 4-2

Wake Forest

4-5 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Wake Forest

Recap: Dungey Leads No. 22 Syracuse to 41-24 Win at Wake Forest

11/3/2018 3:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Dino Babers Press Conference Eric Dungey Press Conference Ryan Guthrie Press Conference Postgame Notes Quotes

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Playing as a ranked team for the first time since 2001, No. 22 Syracuse (7-2, 4-2 ACC) ran 60 times for 264 yards and five touchdowns in a 41-24 victory at Wake Forest (4-5, 1-4 ACC) on Saturday, Nov. 3 at BB&T Stadium.

The Orange won an ACC road game for the first time since 2016 and improved to 5-3 all-time against the Demon Deacons.

Dungey ran 24 times for 119 yards and a touchdown. He also completed 23-of-35 passes for 157 yards. Dungey increased his career passing yardage total to 8,473 to move into second place on the Syracuse all-time list, passing Donovan McNabb (8,316) and Marvin Graves (8,466). Ryan Nassib ranks first (9,190).

In addition to Dungey, running backs Jarveon Howard (2), Moe Neal (1) and fullback/tight end Chris Elmore (1) all had rushing scores.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
A contest that featured eight touchdowns was ultimately secured by two Syracuse field goals. A Wake Forest fumble led to a 28-yard field goal from redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt that pushed the Orange lead to 38-24 early in the fourth quarter. On its next series, the Demon Deacons failed to convert a fourth-down try, giving Syracuse the ball back at the Wake 31. The Orange were unable to reach the end zone, but Szmyt tacked on a 34-yard field goal with 7:01 left to close the scoring.

Szmyt's two field goals were the only points of the fourth quarter, Syracuse forced two turnovers on downs and an interception on Wake Forest's three fourth-quarter possessions.

DEMON DEACONS DRIVE EARLY
While Wake Forest was kept in check late, it came out hot, scoring the first 10 points of the game. The Demon Deacons took advantage of a short Syracuse punt and moved 47 yards in seven plays, a drive finished by a 2-yard run from Cade Carney. A 29-yard punt return by Greg Dortch set the home team up at the Syracuse 22, but after one Demon Deacon first down, the Orange defense held, limiting Wake to a 22-yard field goal by Nick Sciba at the 6:12 mark of the first quarter.

THE ORANGE ANSWER
Trailing by 10 and struggling to find success in the passing game, Syracuse responded by scoring 28 unanswered points on the strength of its rushing attack.

The rally began with an 8-yard Neal touchdown run that completed a seven-play, 75-yard drive. Dungey's 33-yard pass to Jamal Custis, which turned out to be Syracuse's longest offensive play of the game, helped the Orange get into position to finish the drive.

After the teams traded punts, Syracuse's defense forced a turnover deep in Wake Forest territory. Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman saw the ball slip out of his hand and junior nose tackle McKinley Williams recovered at the Demon Deacon 10-yard line. Following two carries by Neal that put the ball on the Wake Forest two, the Orange went to Howard twice in a row. He found the end zone on the second attempt and the extra point put Syracuse ahead, 14-10.

Howard contributed his second 1-yard touchdown run near the end of the second quarter. It completed a 10-play, 57-yard march and extended the Orange advantage to 21-10 with 58 seconds left in the half.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Syracuse scored its fourth straight touchdown when Elmore took a Dungey handoff five yards to paydirt. On the drive, Dungey did the heavy lifting, rushing four times for 39 yards.

PLENTY OF POINTS IN THE THIRD
Both clubs produced two touchdowns in the third quarter and the scores came on four consecutive series.

The Orange started the streak with Elmore's touchdown. Wake Forest answered, racing 75 yards in 7 plays, while taking just 1:46 off the clock, on a 20-yard scoring pass from Hartman to Scotty Washington.

On Syracuse's turn, Dungey once again shouldered the load. He completed four passes for 28 yards and ran three times for 46 yards. On third-and-six from the Wake 26, Dungey took it the distance, scrambling for a 26-yard score.

The Demon Deacons came right back with their second straight 75-yard scoring jaunt. Hartman's 8-yard scoring pass to Dortch. Wake Forest trailed 35-24 and clock read 3:38 after Dortch's touchdown.

The scoring paused when Syracuse was forced to punt on its next possession, but the Orange returned the favor when safety Evan Roster recovered Hartman's fumble to halt Wake's next series.

ELMORE EFFICIENT
Elmore added to his "perfect" ball-carrying record in the second half. He entered the contest having run once this season for a touchdown. In the third quarter, Elmore got his second attempt of the fall and ran into the end zone from five yards out. He improved his season total to two carries for two touchdowns at that point. However, Elmore's productivity took a hit when carried for one yard and did not score later in the third quarter.

INCLUSIVE ORANGE PASS RUSH
It was all hands on deck as the Orange pass rush flustered Hartman all game. The Orange accumulated five sacks thanks to the efforts of four different defenders. Linebacker Ryan Guthrie had a career-high two quarterback takedowns, while safety Evan Foster, defensive end Alton Robinson and defensive lineman Kenneth Ruff each had one. Ruff's sack was the first of his career.

BABERS BITE
"I'm really excited for the seniors. Getting our seventh win guarantees these guys a winning season, not finishing at .500 or getting below .500 in a bowl game," Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. "I can't say enough about what they have done to change this culture here at Syracuse University, and for giving us an opportunity to do greater things in the future. Regardless of whatever happens, they will be known as the class that got this team turned around and headed back in the right direction."

OF NOTE

Guthrie led the Orange with 11 tackles, one shy of his personal-best effort. Senior linebacker Kielan Whitner had 10 stops.
Syracuse earned its seventh victory, guaranteeing the Orange will finish 2018 with a winning record for the first time since going 7-6 in 2013.
Dungey's 100-yard rushing game gave him six in his Syracuse career. That's tied for 15th in the Orange record book.
Szmyt's five extra points and two field goals (28 and 34 yards) upped his season point total to 114. He passed Jim Brown (106, 1956) and tied Floyd Little (114, 1965) for second place on the Orange single-season list. Walter Reyes (128, 2003) owns the standard.
Szmyt extended his school-record for season made field goals to 23. He improved to 23-of-25 (.920) on the year.
With his five extra points, Szmyt increased his season total to 45, good for fourth in Syracuse history. He passed Tim Vesling (43, 1987) and Ross Krautman (43, 2012) on that season ledger.
Dungey's 26-yard rushing touchdown was the 30th of his tenure. It moved him into a fifth-place tie with Dee Brown (1997-2000) on Syracuse's list for most career touchdowns scored. Little (1964-66) and Reyes (2001-04) share the record with 46 total TDs.

UP NEXT
Syracuse puts its unbeaten Carrier Dome record on line Friday, Nov. 9, when the Orange take on Louisville in the final home game of the season. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN2.

Tickets to watch the Orange and Cardinals 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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