Recap: Defense Dominant In 30-7 Win Against Florida State

Saturday, September 15

Syracuse, NY

12 PM

Syracuse University

3-0 , 1-0

Florida State

1-2 , 0-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Florida State

Syracuse

Recap: Defense Dominant In 30-7 Win Against Florida State

9/15/2018 3:25:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Photo Gallery Dino Babers Press Conference Players Press Conference Postgame Notes Quotes

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – What previewed as an afternoon of offensive pyrotechnics turned out to be a dominant defensive performance by Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 ACC).

The Orange registered four sacks and allowed only 62 yards rushing against Florida State (1-2, 0-2 ACC) to emerge with a 30-7 victory against the Seminoles in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, Sept. 15. Syracuse outgained the Seminoles 441-240 and had 25 first downs to Florida State's 11.

The win stopped Syracuse's 10-game losing streak to the Seminoles, marking the team's first win in the series since 1966, and put the Orange at 3-0 for the first time in the tenure of Coach Dino Babers.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
The game-winning points were posted by Syracuse in the third quarter. Reserve quarterback Tommy DeVito, who had subbed in for starter Eric Dungey, took the Orange 64 yards on nine plays and scored on a 3-yard run. It upped the Orange edge to 13-0, and Syracuse ultimately never trailed.

Junior Moe Neal carried four times for 27 yards on the series, and DeVito completed an important 22-yard pass to senior tight end Ravian Pierce that moved the chains.

SCORING SUMMARY
Syracuse got on the board first on its second possession of the contest. The Orange traveled 76 yards in 14 plays. When the drive stalled at the Florida State 4-yard line, redshirt freshman Andre Szmyt connected on a 22-yard field goal.

After an interception by redshirt junior cornerback Christopher Fredrick, the Orange got close to the end zone again late in the second period. DeVito teamed with redshirt senior Jamal Custis on a 16-yard gain to the Florida State 1-yard line. The Seminoles stood tall on three straight rushing plays and Szmyt was called on for his second field goal. He was true from 19 yards to put Syracuse ahead 6-0 with 1:40 left in the half.

After DeVito's third-quarter touchdown, Syracuse's defense forced a Florida State three-and-out. The Orange took advantage, striking quickly, thanks in part to a 45-yard run by freshman Jarveon Howard that put the ball at the FSU 3-yard line. On the next snap, DeVito lobbed his first career touchdown pass to Pierce for a 20-0 advantage.

Szymt tacked on his third field goal early in the fourth quarter to push the Orange margin to 23-0.

Florida State averted a shutout by scoring with 6:16 left to play. The 'Noles went 70 yards in eight plays and found paydirt on a 2-yard dive by quarterback Deondre Francois.

The Orange closed out the game's scoring when senior Dontae Strickland recorded a 13-yard touchdown run with 3:19 left in the contest.

THIRD-DOWN DOMINANCE
Syracuse's stellar defensive effort was magnified in its effort on third down. The Orange limited the Seminoles to 1-of-14 (.071) on third-down conversion attempts. Florida State was stopped on its first 10 third-down tries before finally converting in the fourth quarter.

SYRACUSE UNLEASHES SACK PACK
The Orange defensive front hit FSU quarterback Deondre Francois early and often. Syracuse registered a season-best four sacks in the game for a total of 32 yards lost. Junior defensive end Kendall Coleman led the charge with a personal-best two sacks. Defensive ends Alton Robinson and Kingsley Jonathan each had one.

OF NOTE

Senior linebacker Kielan Whitner had a squad-best 11 total tackles and a forced fumble. Junior strong safety Evan Foster added 10 tackles. It was the first career double-digit tackle game for Whitner and Foster's third.
Neal led all ground gainers with 75 yards on 19 carries. Howard had 55 yards on five attempts and Strickland ran 13 times for 36 yards.
Szymt missed for the first time this season when his 46-yard field goal attempt in the first quarter was wide. He did convert from 22, 19 and 23 yards.
Dungey departed the game with blurred vision late in the second quarter. He completed 7-of-15 passes for 75 yards and rushed nine times for 33 yards.
Florida State standout Cam Akers entered Saturday averaging 78.8 yards rushing per game for his career. The Orange limited him to 52 yards on 10 carries.
Syracuse welcomed back members of its 1996, 1997 and 1998 BIG EAST Conference championship teams. Those in attendance included former NFL standouts Donovan McNabb, Donovin Darius, and the last man to wear No. 44 – Rob Konrad.

BABERS BITE
"First of all, I thought it was a fantastic game by the young men who really played their hearts out," head coach Dino Babers said. "I'm so excited about the student body and the community of Syracuse and the support they gave us in the Dome. They were loud, they were crazy, and there's no doubt that the 12th-man atmosphere really helped with what we were trying to do."

UP NEXT
Syracuse welcomes Connecticut to the Dome on Saturday, Sept. 22 for a 4 p.m. kickoff. The game will be televised on ESPNews. Tickets to watch the Orange and Huskies start at $25 and are on sale online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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(9/15/2018) Football vs. Florida State