Sunday Sidebar: Dungey Runs His Way into Record Book
9/2/2018 9:00:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Allow Eric Dungey to reintroduce himself.
After missing the final three games of the 2017 season with a broken foot, the Orange's senior quarterback made his return to the field Friday night and wasted no time reminding everyone watching that he's one of the top playmakers in the Atlantic Coast Conference and perhaps the nation. Dungey ran 15 times for 200 yards (13.3 avg.) with a touchdown and completed 7-of-17 passes for 184 yards and two scores to lead Syracuse to a 55-42 season-opening win against Western Michigan.
Dungey's 200 yards on the ground was a new career best, marked his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, and shattered the previous rushing record for Orange quarterbacks of 156 yards, which was shared by Bill Hurley (vs. Northwestern, 1979) and Terrel Hunt (vs. Maryland, 2014). It was also the fourth time in ACC history a quarterback reached the 200-yard rushing plateau. Dungey joined the trio of Taquon Marshall (Georgia Tech), Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Woody Dantzler (Clemson) as conference signal-callers to run for at least 200 yards in a game.
"He's a warrior," head coach Dino Babers said. "He's so big. He's stiff-arming people. Sheesh, he's unbelievable."Â
Against the Broncos, Dungey racked up 149 yards rushing in the first half alone, including a 49-yard dash in the second quarter that helped set up a 43-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt that put Syracuse ahead, 34-7. Dungey then headed to the sideline in favor of redshirt freshman Tommy DeVito, but when game got tight in the third quarter Babers turned back to his senior leader and Dungey delivered again. Dungey guided the Orange to three more touchdowns, including a 27-yard TD run of his own early in the fourth quarter that all but sealed the game.
The touchdown was the 21st rushing score of his career, which places him 14th in the ACC record book.Â
Overall, Dungey logged carries of 14, 18, 18, 27, 31, 36 and 49 yards versus Western Michigan to propel Syracuse to 334 yards on the ground, the top team rushing total of the Babers era. Individually, Dungey now ranks third among Syracuse quarterbacks in career rushing yards with 1,439 yards, trailing only Hurley (2,551) and Donovan McNabb (1,561).
There's a lot of season left to play and there's no telling how his final campaign unfolds, but one thing is certain.
Eric Dungey is back.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
After missing the final three games of the 2017 season with a broken foot, the Orange's senior quarterback made his return to the field Friday night and wasted no time reminding everyone watching that he's one of the top playmakers in the Atlantic Coast Conference and perhaps the nation. Dungey ran 15 times for 200 yards (13.3 avg.) with a touchdown and completed 7-of-17 passes for 184 yards and two scores to lead Syracuse to a 55-42 season-opening win against Western Michigan.
Dungey's 200 yards on the ground was a new career best, marked his fifth career 100-yard rushing game, and shattered the previous rushing record for Orange quarterbacks of 156 yards, which was shared by Bill Hurley (vs. Northwestern, 1979) and Terrel Hunt (vs. Maryland, 2014). It was also the fourth time in ACC history a quarterback reached the 200-yard rushing plateau. Dungey joined the trio of Taquon Marshall (Georgia Tech), Lamar Jackson (Louisville) and Woody Dantzler (Clemson) as conference signal-callers to run for at least 200 yards in a game.
"He's a warrior," head coach Dino Babers said. "He's so big. He's stiff-arming people. Sheesh, he's unbelievable."Â
Against the Broncos, Dungey racked up 149 yards rushing in the first half alone, including a 49-yard dash in the second quarter that helped set up a 43-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt that put Syracuse ahead, 34-7. Dungey then headed to the sideline in favor of redshirt freshman Tommy DeVito, but when game got tight in the third quarter Babers turned back to his senior leader and Dungey delivered again. Dungey guided the Orange to three more touchdowns, including a 27-yard TD run of his own early in the fourth quarter that all but sealed the game.
The touchdown was the 21st rushing score of his career, which places him 14th in the ACC record book.Â
Overall, Dungey logged carries of 14, 18, 18, 27, 31, 36 and 49 yards versus Western Michigan to propel Syracuse to 334 yards on the ground, the top team rushing total of the Babers era. Individually, Dungey now ranks third among Syracuse quarterbacks in career rushing yards with 1,439 yards, trailing only Hurley (2,551) and Donovan McNabb (1,561).
There's a lot of season left to play and there's no telling how his final campaign unfolds, but one thing is certain.
Eric Dungey is back.
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
K
/ FootballRickie Collins Interview | Duke Week
Thursday, September 25
Fran Brown Show
Thursday, September 25
Syracuse vs. Clemson | The Extended Cut
Tuesday, September 23
Fran Brown Press Conference | Duke Week
Monday, September 22
