Syracuse Football held on to beat Pittsburgh, 27-24. Inside The Loud House brings you the Top 5 Highlights from the game.
Syracuse Football finally finished out a close win to keep their bowl hopes alive. Against Pittsburgh, the Orange looked stout defensively throughout and showed they can play with anyone in the ACC. The main question mark surprisingly is the offense.
Don’t get me wrong, this team has stars on offense in Eric Dungey, Steve Ishmael and Erv Philips. Not to mention possibly even Sean Riley, Ravian Pierce or Devin C. Butler. All these guys can contribute, its just getting them all clicking at the same time. That has been the one thing holding back the team this year.
The offense has looked pretty good this year, but it hits dulls sometimes in the middle of games. This has got to change, especially with Clemson this Friday, and Miami and Florida State road games following that. To stay in contention for a bowl game they must upset at least one of these teams. This Syracuse Football team has the potential to do it, it’s just a matter of everyone being on the same page.
Versus Pittsburgh, the Orange looked decent though on both sides of the ball. It was definitely one of the more complete games for the Orange. The running game was a tad better, but not by much. I’ve been saying this for weeks, but that’s got to change.
Anyways, I could go on and on all day about the pros and cons of this team, but let’s take a look at the special plays Syracuse Football made this week against Pittsburgh.
5. Eric Dungey 10-yard Run for Touchdown
Dungey could smell the goal line. The Orange were only 10 yards away and he knew if he could could just get a small hole in the line he could burst through it for the score.
Fast forward to the snap. Dungey hauls in the hiked ball from the center. He hesitates then tucks the ball, finds a crease to go through on the left part of the line, and bursts through. He had two defenders coming to meet him. No problem. He just speeds up. He can feel now. Boom, there’s the 1-yard line, time to dance! That my friends is how you score your 8th rushing touchdown of the season.
Dungey’s score would put the Orange back up 17-13, a lead they would not relinquish. It would also show Pitt the Orange were willing to run the ball and could do so effectively in spurts, especially from the quarterback position.
Dungey would finish the day with 12 carries for 48 yards, according to ESPN.com. Not bad. Not bad at all. He now has 80 carries for 325 yards to go with eight rushing touchdowns in six games. That’s about 4.1 yards per carry along with over one touchdown per game on the ground. That’s not usually what you see from a quarterback, but that’s how Dungey likes to play.
4. Steve Ishmael Lunging Catch for Huge Gain
Is this guy a better version of Amba Etta Tawo? I don’t think so, but his stats are looking like they might be. Through six games, Steve Ishmael has 56 receptions for 729 yards, according to ESPN.com. Etta Tawo had 94 receptions last year for 1,482 yards, so anything can happen. He is on pace to fly by Etta Tawo’s marks which should scare ACC opponents coming up.
In this game, Ishmael was up to his same old antics, especially on this play early in the game. Ishmael did a post route, Dungey saw him, and hoisted it up hoping Ish could make some separation just as the ball was coming down so he could make the catch. He did, hence: big play.
Dungey may have lightly overthrown it, but Ishmael adjusted and lunged for the ball as it came down in front of him. The defender had no chance to reach it unless he did the same. The play was a huge gain for the Orange early, and put them on the right side of the field.
It’s plays like these from Ish that make him one of the best wide receivers in the country. Yeah, he can disappear in games at times, but when you need him to go out and make a big play he can deliver. Whether that be a short screen, then getting through contact, or simply catching a long ball, Ish can deliver. Syracuse Football is going to need much more of these big plays throughout the rest of the season.
3. Devin C Butler First Career Orange Touchdown
We were all waiting for that third wide receiver to stand out. For awhile there we thought it might be return man/receiver Sean Riley, but he hasn’t lived up that billing yet. Devin C. Butler may be more of the same, as seen in this game.
In the game this weekend, Butler pretty much came out of nowhere to have seven receptions for 64 yards and a score. He has the talent to play week-in and week-out, as shown in this game, but hasn’t blossomed yet. This performance is a sign he is capable of being a great role player for the Orange after Ish and Philips.
On this play, Dungey saw Butler doing a slot route that went straight out towards the end zone. Dungey hoists balls from time to time, which is exactly what he did on this play. The ball landed perfectly in Butlers arm’s just as he crossed the goal line.
The touchdown grab was Butler’s first in his career with the Orange. If he can keep this up, he could be a special player down the road for the Orange. He just needs to become more consistent and wait for Dungey to find him. The ability is there though as this touchdown route showed.
He may not get a whole lot of touches as Ish and Philips are Dungey’s primary targets, but when tough ACC defenses come up and take those two out of the game, the Orange will need that third or fourth guy to step up. Hopefully, Butler can be that guy down the stretch.
2. Steve Ishmael Catches, Then Pushes Way In for Touchdown
This play felt like an NFL play from the start. Long pass play to your A.J. Green type player. Hauling it in while your defender is draped all over you, then pushing your way a few yards into the end zone. That’s exactly, what Ishmael did on this play.
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Dungey took the snap back in shotgun with a running back beside him. Ish was in single coverage on the right side. Dungey saw him create some space and heaved it down the sideline. The ball was a tiny bit under thrown, but Ish adjusted while the defender did not. Ishmael caught the ball near his waist and brought it up to his chest.
He knew he was still a yard or two away from a score. So what does he do? He uses his back as a battering ram and uses his feet to push his defender backwards. The result: the extra yards he needed followed by a tumble into the end zone for the score.
The touchdown would be Ishmael’s 3rd of the season, and would put the Orange up big, 27-16. Unfortunately, Pitt would score once again to make it 27-24, and the Orange would have to hold on. The good news is Ishmael’s score ended up being the winning score for the Orange in a game that was a defensive battle for both teams.
This play was one of many big plays Ish made this week. He has been consistently good at beating his man this season and is trying to prove he should be drafted unlike his predecessor Amba Etta Tawo, who was not. If he keeps playing like this, it would be shock if he wasn’t. The kid’s got talent: no question. Hopefully he keeps this up and shatters the Syracuse record books.
1. Ryan Guthrie Sack With Under a Minute To Play
This may not have been the biggest highlight of the day compared to these other crazy catches and runs, but it was the most important one for Syracuse football. The Orange had just failed to convert on 4th and one on a short shovel pass to Pierce in the red zone. Down three, Pitt just needed a field goal with under a minute to tie the game.
Ben Dinucci, Pitts backup quarterback who had come in for injured starter Max Browne had to make a long pass play. The Orange knew that, so they dropped a bunch of guys back and left only a few of the front seven at the line. Luckily, the Orange had the crowd got behind them, cheering them on for a stop.
After the ball was snapped, number 41, Ryan Guthrie, made the play of his life, pushing his lineman back. He would not be denied. He would spin by the guy in front of him taking Dinucci down shortly after for the sack. It would be one of only two for the Orange on the day. The play would also knock Dinucci’s helmet off forcing the Pitt offense to burn a timeout so he would not have to miss a play. That sack by Guthrie would wind up being the big play the Orange needed to hold the Panthers off.
It was the highlight of what was an excellent defensive day for the Orange. If the Orange and Guthrie can do more big plays like this down the stretch in big games then they’ll be fine.
Next: Syracuse Football: Orange Beat Panthers- Game Notes