Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Sunday Sidebar: Welch Adds Different Dimension to Offense
10/20/2019 9:15:00 AM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Redshirt senior Clayton Welch saw his first significant action at quarterback for the Syracuse football team Friday night against Pittsburgh. Welch initially entered the game as part of a specific package the Orange employed to attack the Panthers by utilizing the 6-foot-5 signal-caller as a runner. He took the reins of the offense full time in the third quarter after head coach Dino Babers elected to remove starter Tommy DeVito, who had absorbed six sacks from an aggressive Pitt defense.
Behind Welch, Syracuse outscored the Panthers 14-3 in the second half. The Chico, California native completed eight passes for 176 yards and two scores. He converted two third downs on designed quarterback runs and finished the game as Syracuse's leading rusher with 36 yards on 10 carries. Removing sack yardage from his total, Welch rushed seven times for 62 yards.
"I thought Clayton did a nice job of coming off the bench and giving us certain things. It was actually good to see him get out there as a senior," Babers said. "It was fun to see him out there. I just wish the score would have ended up a little bit different."
Welch took the field for the first time in the second quarter and raced 23 yards on a draw play to convert a third-and-six to preserve a drive that resulted in an Orange field goal that cut the Panther lead to 10-6. DeVito retook his normal position under center, but Babers went with Welch again on third down two possessions later and again found success. Welch scampered for 18 yards and another first down, however, Syracuse was unable to come away with points on the series.
"I wouldn't say I really added anything, I would say we were just moving," Welch said. "I've seen Tommy make plays with his legs, of course. I just had the opportunities. They [Pitt] probably played me a little different. I just went in there and fought."
DeVito helmed the first two series of the third quarter, but after scrambling on second-and-10 from the 5-yard line, the redshirt sophomore was hit hard by Pitt's Paris Ford and fumbled. The Orange recovered the football at the 6-yard line, but Babers had seen his starter endure enough punishment and removed DeVito permanently in favor of Welch.
On the first snap after DeVito's departure, Welch lofted a high pass to Taj Harris that went for a 94-yard touchdown and cut the deficit to 24-13. The connection matched a Donovan McNabb 94-yard TD strike to Quinton Spotwood versus East Carolina in 1997 for the second-longest passing play in team history.
"We were running a lot of sit routes," Welch said about what he saw on the play. "I saw the corners just wait on it and Taj made a great play, I threw it up to him and he made the play. I tried to beat him down there to the end zone, but he's a little faster than me."
Pitt would add a field goal midway through the fourth quarter, but Welch led the Orange on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by his 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hackett. Andre Szmyt's extra point reduced the Panther lead to 27-20 with 2:44 to go.
Welch almost had an opportunity to engineer a potential game-tying or game-winning drive when it appeared Kenneth Ruff wrestled the ball away from Pitt running back Vincent Davis on the ensuing Pitt possession. However, officials ruled Davis was down by contact before the ball came loose. Two plays later, Pitt gained a first down and from there was able to run out the clock.
After the game, Welch said he just tried to do the best he could for DeVito and the rest of his teammates.
"One-three is my brother and will always be my brother," Welch said. "I went out for the team, obviously, but I really went out for him, too.
"I played football my whole life. I went out there and played football. That's what we do."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).Â
Behind Welch, Syracuse outscored the Panthers 14-3 in the second half. The Chico, California native completed eight passes for 176 yards and two scores. He converted two third downs on designed quarterback runs and finished the game as Syracuse's leading rusher with 36 yards on 10 carries. Removing sack yardage from his total, Welch rushed seven times for 62 yards.
"I thought Clayton did a nice job of coming off the bench and giving us certain things. It was actually good to see him get out there as a senior," Babers said. "It was fun to see him out there. I just wish the score would have ended up a little bit different."
Welch took the field for the first time in the second quarter and raced 23 yards on a draw play to convert a third-and-six to preserve a drive that resulted in an Orange field goal that cut the Panther lead to 10-6. DeVito retook his normal position under center, but Babers went with Welch again on third down two possessions later and again found success. Welch scampered for 18 yards and another first down, however, Syracuse was unable to come away with points on the series.
"I wouldn't say I really added anything, I would say we were just moving," Welch said. "I've seen Tommy make plays with his legs, of course. I just had the opportunities. They [Pitt] probably played me a little different. I just went in there and fought."
DeVito helmed the first two series of the third quarter, but after scrambling on second-and-10 from the 5-yard line, the redshirt sophomore was hit hard by Pitt's Paris Ford and fumbled. The Orange recovered the football at the 6-yard line, but Babers had seen his starter endure enough punishment and removed DeVito permanently in favor of Welch.
On the first snap after DeVito's departure, Welch lofted a high pass to Taj Harris that went for a 94-yard touchdown and cut the deficit to 24-13. The connection matched a Donovan McNabb 94-yard TD strike to Quinton Spotwood versus East Carolina in 1997 for the second-longest passing play in team history.
"We were running a lot of sit routes," Welch said about what he saw on the play. "I saw the corners just wait on it and Taj made a great play, I threw it up to him and he made the play. I tried to beat him down there to the end zone, but he's a little faster than me."
Pitt would add a field goal midway through the fourth quarter, but Welch led the Orange on a 15-play, 75-yard drive that was capped off by his 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Aaron Hackett. Andre Szmyt's extra point reduced the Panther lead to 27-20 with 2:44 to go.
Welch almost had an opportunity to engineer a potential game-tying or game-winning drive when it appeared Kenneth Ruff wrestled the ball away from Pitt running back Vincent Davis on the ensuing Pitt possession. However, officials ruled Davis was down by contact before the ball came loose. Two plays later, Pitt gained a first down and from there was able to run out the clock.
After the game, Welch said he just tried to do the best he could for DeVito and the rest of his teammates.
"One-three is my brother and will always be my brother," Welch said. "I went out for the team, obviously, but I really went out for him, too.
"I played football my whole life. I went out there and played football. That's what we do."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).Â
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