Emphatic Win Exorcises Past Demons vs. Cards
9/4/2022 12:07:00 PM | Football
Three straight trips to Kentucky had ended with Syracuse losing by a combined score of 127-39 to Louisville. The Cards had the Orange's number – but the 2022 'Cuse squad wasn't looking to the past on Saturday night. The latest iteration of the program emphatically exorcised the demons that had plagued the team in prior matchups at Louisville and rolled 31-7 in the season opener.
"This is a bully that has beaten you up three times in the courtyard and you haven't eaten for a while. He's taking your money and your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You're getting skinny and you need something to eat," said head coach Dino Babers. "It was great to finally get an opportunity to get a win against them and we're going to take it."
Syracuse led wire-to-wire, with players making plays in all three facets of the game - but it was Garrett Williams' third quarter interception that signaled that this year's team was different.
"There's a play where Garrett Williams picks off a post route in the end zone, and if you check the records it's the same post route that they've thrown for touchdowns on us at least twice and it was just one of those plays where we can't let it beat us again," head coach Dino Babers said postgame. "This has been déjà vu too many times. Then when they threw it, the guy was open and my eyes went to Garrett and sure enough he had it… This team was really locked in [to rectifying past mistakes] to give themselves the best opportunity to do something that people didn't think they could do."
The defense held star Louisville QB Malik Cunningham to under 200 yards of total offense. It was the first time he's been held to less than 200 yards in a game in which he started and finished in nearly two years (181 at Notre Dame on Oct. 17, 2020). The seven Cardinal points were also the fewest they've had since that game.
Offensively, QB Garrett Shrader had his most efficient passing day in a Syracuse uniform. He completed 18-of-25 passes for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while seven different players caught passes. Shrader also ran for one score as well.
The Orange will look to continue their momentum next weekend at UConn. That game will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. After that, 'Cuse hosts a four-game homestand. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets or calling 888-DOME-TIX.
"This is a bully that has beaten you up three times in the courtyard and you haven't eaten for a while. He's taking your money and your peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You're getting skinny and you need something to eat," said head coach Dino Babers. "It was great to finally get an opportunity to get a win against them and we're going to take it."
Syracuse led wire-to-wire, with players making plays in all three facets of the game - but it was Garrett Williams' third quarter interception that signaled that this year's team was different.
"There's a play where Garrett Williams picks off a post route in the end zone, and if you check the records it's the same post route that they've thrown for touchdowns on us at least twice and it was just one of those plays where we can't let it beat us again," head coach Dino Babers said postgame. "This has been déjà vu too many times. Then when they threw it, the guy was open and my eyes went to Garrett and sure enough he had it… This team was really locked in [to rectifying past mistakes] to give themselves the best opportunity to do something that people didn't think they could do."
The defense held star Louisville QB Malik Cunningham to under 200 yards of total offense. It was the first time he's been held to less than 200 yards in a game in which he started and finished in nearly two years (181 at Notre Dame on Oct. 17, 2020). The seven Cardinal points were also the fewest they've had since that game.
Offensively, QB Garrett Shrader had his most efficient passing day in a Syracuse uniform. He completed 18-of-25 passes for 237 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while seven different players caught passes. Shrader also ran for one score as well.
The Orange will look to continue their momentum next weekend at UConn. That game will be televised on CBS Sports Network at 7 p.m. After that, 'Cuse hosts a four-game homestand. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets or calling 888-DOME-TIX.
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