Photo by: Charles Wainwright
Sunday Sidebar: See Ball, Get Ball
11/17/2019 12:30:00 PM | Football
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Fast and physical. That's how linebacker Lakiem Williams said the Orange defense wanted to play against Duke.
Williams and Co. delivered, as Syracuse created three Duke turnovers on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. The takeaways led to 21 points to help the Orange gain full control of what was, at the time, a one-score game yesterday at Wallace Wade Stadium. Syracuse eventually emerged as 49-6 victors, the largest winning margin for the Orange against an FBS opponent since 2000.
The game-changing surge started on the second series of the third quarter. The Orange held a 14-6 halftime lead and had just punted the ball back to the Blue Devils with 13:25 remaining in the period. However, safety Andre Cisco intercepted a deflected pass by Duke quarterback Quentin Harris and took it 48 yards to the end zone to extend the Orange advantage to 21-6. It was the first pick-six of the sophomore's career and his 10th interception overall.
On the ensuing Duke drive, cornerback Christopher Frederick wrestled the ball away from a Blue Devil receiver for his second interception of 2019. The pick gave Syracuse good starting field position at the Duke 42-yard line. The offense took advantage as Tommy DeVito found rookie tight end Luke Benson for 22-yard score to widen the margin to 28-6.
The final turnover occurred when linebacker Andrew Armstrong stripped Duke running back Mataeo Durant and Evan Foster recovered. Foster, who had 12 tackles in the contest, returned the ball 27 yards to the Duke 15-yard line. That set up Moe Neal for a 2-yard touchdown.
In a little over eight minutes the score had gone from 14-6 to 35-6. Game. Set. Match.
"Momentum stacks up like crazy when you have one turnover, let alone three in a row," senior defensive end Kendall Coleman said. "It was major."Â
The Orange have now turned their opponents over 19 times on the season and have at least one takeaway in 23 of their last 24 games dating back to 2017. The takeaways were part of an overall plan put together by interim defensive coordinator Steve Stanard that resulted in the Orange allowing just 279 yards of offense on 85 plays (3.3 avg.) by the Blue Devils. Duke's longest play from scrimmage was a 25-yard reception by Aaron Young. Its longest rush went for 12 yards.
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"I felt that the game was a little bit simpler and we had some success," head coach Dino Babers said. "I think the main thing is that we kind of limited some complexities and let the guys really play instead of trying to be perfect. We let energy and enthusiasm cover some things instead of trying to be exactly right."
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Syracuse will look to carry that same energy and enthusiasm into next week's game at Louisville.
"What Duke went through was hard. They played a game and they had one week. We had two weeks," Babers said. "They didn't know what we were going to do. That's a huge advantage. That advantage won't be there next weekend. We're going to play it one at a time. The kids did a nice job and they played extremely well today."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
Williams and Co. delivered, as Syracuse created three Duke turnovers on consecutive possessions in the third quarter. The takeaways led to 21 points to help the Orange gain full control of what was, at the time, a one-score game yesterday at Wallace Wade Stadium. Syracuse eventually emerged as 49-6 victors, the largest winning margin for the Orange against an FBS opponent since 2000.
The game-changing surge started on the second series of the third quarter. The Orange held a 14-6 halftime lead and had just punted the ball back to the Blue Devils with 13:25 remaining in the period. However, safety Andre Cisco intercepted a deflected pass by Duke quarterback Quentin Harris and took it 48 yards to the end zone to extend the Orange advantage to 21-6. It was the first pick-six of the sophomore's career and his 10th interception overall.
On the ensuing Duke drive, cornerback Christopher Frederick wrestled the ball away from a Blue Devil receiver for his second interception of 2019. The pick gave Syracuse good starting field position at the Duke 42-yard line. The offense took advantage as Tommy DeVito found rookie tight end Luke Benson for 22-yard score to widen the margin to 28-6.
The final turnover occurred when linebacker Andrew Armstrong stripped Duke running back Mataeo Durant and Evan Foster recovered. Foster, who had 12 tackles in the contest, returned the ball 27 yards to the Duke 15-yard line. That set up Moe Neal for a 2-yard touchdown.
In a little over eight minutes the score had gone from 14-6 to 35-6. Game. Set. Match.
"Momentum stacks up like crazy when you have one turnover, let alone three in a row," senior defensive end Kendall Coleman said. "It was major."Â
The Orange have now turned their opponents over 19 times on the season and have at least one takeaway in 23 of their last 24 games dating back to 2017. The takeaways were part of an overall plan put together by interim defensive coordinator Steve Stanard that resulted in the Orange allowing just 279 yards of offense on 85 plays (3.3 avg.) by the Blue Devils. Duke's longest play from scrimmage was a 25-yard reception by Aaron Young. Its longest rush went for 12 yards.
Â
"I felt that the game was a little bit simpler and we had some success," head coach Dino Babers said. "I think the main thing is that we kind of limited some complexities and let the guys really play instead of trying to be perfect. We let energy and enthusiasm cover some things instead of trying to be exactly right."
Â
Syracuse will look to carry that same energy and enthusiasm into next week's game at Louisville.
"What Duke went through was hard. They played a game and they had one week. We had two weeks," Babers said. "They didn't know what we were going to do. That's a huge advantage. That advantage won't be there next weekend. We're going to play it one at a time. The kids did a nice job and they played extremely well today."
For complete coverage of Syracuse football, follow us on Twitter (@CuseFootball), Instagram (@CuseFootball) and like us on Facebook (Syracuse Football).
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