Recap: Orange Explode for 62 Points in Dome Debut

Saturday, September 8

Syracuse, NY

3:30 PM

Syracuse University

2-0

Wagner

1-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Wagner

Syracuse

Recap: Orange Explode for 62 Points in Dome Debut

9/8/2018 7:25:00 PM | Football

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

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Senior quarterback Eric Dungey completed 23-of-32 passes for 218 yards and a school record-tying five touchdowns, and Syracuse (2-0) defeated Wagner (1-1) by the score of 62-10 in the team's home opener Saturday, Sept. 8 at the Carrier Dome.

Dungey engineered scoring drives on seven of the Orange's first 10 possessions while helping Syracuse build an advantage that reached 45-7 by halftime. The Orange tacked on two touchdowns and a field goal in the second half, while limiting the visitors to a field goal after the break.

SCORING SUMMARY
Wagner won the toss and took the ball first. On third-and-7 at the Wagner 17, quarterback Luke Massei had his pass intercepted by freshman Andre Cisco. The Orange moved 25 yards in seven plays and Dungey threw 16 yards to junior Sean Riley for the first touchdown less than four minutes into the contest.

The second Seahawk series was similar to the first. This time, on third-and-6 from the 29, Cisco intercepted another pass, and returned it five yards to the Wagner 28. Dungey completed passes of 17 yards to Riley, and three yards to junior Devin C. Butler to put the ball on the 8-yard line. Senior Dontae Strickland ran for seven yards and a first down, and then finished the drive with a 1-yard trot into the end zone.

Wagner struck back on its third drive with reserve quarterback T.J. Linta at the helm. Linta connected with D'Erren Wilson on a 50-yard play. On the next snap, Linta found Chris Woodward for a 24-yard touchdown. The extra point narrowed the Syracuse margin to 14-7 with 7:56 to go in the opening quarter.

Seahawk defender Myron Morris picked off a Dungey pass in the end zone to give the ball back to Wagner. Although the drive stalled, the Seahawks forced a Syracuse punt on the next possession. The Orange defense held and then forced a Wagner turnover. Wagner punter Eric Silvester fumbled the long snap and although the Seahawks recovered at their own 10, the Orange took over on downs. Three plays later, Dungey zipped a 24-yard touchdown pass on a slant pattern to freshman Taj Harris to make it 21-7.

In he second quarter, the Orange tacked on 24 unanswered points thanks to two Dungey touchdown passes, a blocked punt recovered for a score by freshman Trill Williams, and a 38-yard field goal from freshman Andre Szmyt. The scoring barrage resulted in a 45-7 Orange lead at the break.

Syracuse opened the second half with six-play, 49-yard scoring march. Strickland recorded his second touchdown, this time on a 20-yard run. The extra point pushed the advantage to 52-7. Wagner constructed a 10-play drive that reached the Syracuse 32, but failed to execute a 49-yard field goal when the snap was mishandled. Syracuse took over and sophomore Moe Neal went to work, running the ball on four four straight plays that totaled 43 and set up the Orange at the Wagner 4-yard line. Dungey passed to senior Jamal Custis for the final four yards and put Syracuse ahead, 59-7.

The two clubs traded field goals in the fourth quarter. Silvester converted from 26 yards for Wagner and Szmyt made a 50-yarder for Syracuse to close out the scoring.

SPREADING THE WEALTH
Dungey was generous and all-inclusive with his passes. By the first intermission, he had already distributed the ball to eight different receivers and four of the eight had touchdown catches. He teamed with Riley, Harris, senior Ravian Pierce and sophomore Nykeim Johnson for scores in the first two quarters.

By the time Dungey departed the game in the third quarter, he had found a fifth different receiver, Custis, for a touchdown.

'CISCO KID'
Freshman defensive back Andre Cisco made an immediate impact Saturday. He picked off passes on each of Wagner's first two possessions. Both thefts came in Seahawk territory and led to Syracuse touchdowns.

Cisco became the first Orange defender with two interceptions in a game since Keon Lyn had two at Temple in 2012.

Cisco finished the game with one tackle and three passes defended. In addition to his interceptions, he was also credited with a pass breakup. Cisco made his Syracuse debut last week at Western Michigan and had an interception in that contest, as well.

OF NOTE

Syracuse improved its record against Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) opponents to 17-0.
The Orange opened the season with consecutive 50+ point games for the first time in the modern era. Syracuse last achieved the feat in 1929 versus Hobart (77-0) and St. Lawrence (55-0).
Dungey's five touchdown passes equaled the record set by Ryan Nassib against Maine in 2010 and matched by Zack Mahoney at Pittsburgh in 2016.
The 45 points accumulated by Syracuse in the first half tied the school record for points in a half set against Colgate in 1959 and equaled against Miami (Fla.) in 1998.
The punt block by Sean Riley was Syracuse's first since Riley knocked one down against NC State in 2016. It was the first time the Orange scored off a blocked punt since 2008 against Connecticut. That time Max Suter blocked the kick and Parker Cantey fell on it in the end zone.
Kicker Andre Szmyt continued the hot streak he started last week against Western Michigan. Against the Broncos, he was 7-of-7 on extra-point attempts and 2-of-2 on field-goal tries. Versus Wagner, Szmyt made all eight point-after-kicks and both of his field goals.
Strickland ran for two scores for the second weekend in a row.
Syracuse converted on all seven of its trips to the red zone.
The Orange held Wagner to 41 yards rushing on 41 attempts (1.0 avg.).

BABERS BITE
"This is probably our most complete game that we've played here – from an offense, defense and special teams point of view," Syracuse head coach Dino Babers said. "They [Wagner] just caught us at the wrong time. We were rocking and rolling. It was a very fine effort. I am very proud of the young men."

UP NEXT
Syracuse welcomes Florida State to the Dome for its ACC opener Saturday, Sept. 15 at noon. The game will be televised by ABC or one of the ESPN family of networks.

Season tickets for Syracuse's remaining five home games are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Single-game tickets to watch the Orange against Florida State start at $35.

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