Syracuse Strong: DL Scott Irons has best game of season in Week 8 vs Auburn

Syracuse Strong defensive lineman Scott Irons had a masterful performance in the Week 8 win vs Auburn. Here’s why he earned Player of the Game honors.

Most of the Syracuse Strong “Player of the Game” awards have gone to the offense this season. While the only player that has received the award multiple times is running back Rashad Burns.

A running joke among the players is Rashad is the favorite to win it every week. So in Week 8 once the game is complete and we’re going down on the field to award No. 75 defensive lineman Scott Irons with the award, his face lights up and the very first thing he says is, “hey I didn’t mean to take it from Rashad Burns, but someone had to do it. I’m so blessed man to represent for my team.”

Scott said he didn’t mean to take it from him, but his stat line says differently. He registered two tackles, one assisted, two sacks (one strip-sack), forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.

It was the best game of the season for Irons and he really helped his team in what amounted to a defensive slugfest through four quarters.

Syracuse ended up winning the game 21-0, but the game was much closer than the score indicated. It went scoreless through the first quarter and was a one-possession game heading into the fourth quarter.

The Strong showed their metal in this one and speaking of metal, Scott Irons is now the true king as he sits atop the ‘Iron Throne’ after Week 8.

Throughout the season the 6-foot-3, 280-pound defensive lineman has played the game with his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes that has gotten him into trouble and other teams have tried to exploit that from what they’ve seen on tape.

In a game that got as chippy as this game did between the Syracuse Strong and the Auburn Pride

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in Week 8, Irons remained calm, cool, and collected.

"“This was a very chippy game and we both share the 315 so this was a battle for who is the boss. This is football and at the end of the day it’s all love.”"

There were two players ejected and multiple warnings from the officials to the sidelines of both teams to keep their players in check.

Syracuse doesn’t have many rivals because no one has stepped up to challenge the Strong on a yearly basis, but this is a rivalry that the players feel when they’re on the field.

"“It feels great man this is a great rivalry. They tried to come at us and we had to show them we’re the Syracuse Strong.”"

The reason Syracuse hasn’t really lost to anyone is their offense. Each week they put up video game numbers via their talented skill players, but Scott Irons wanted to mention that the defense isn’t too bad either.

"“Offense wins games, defense wins championships baby. We’re champions and we’re going to keep coming back and helping this team with our defense.”"

Although despite all the bravado and emotions coming off of this win, Scott gave a very candid answer about the Strong moving forward:

"“Our mentality is to play at a 98.6 level because I think we let ourselves get a little too cocky and ahead of ourselves, this game helped us focus. We have to be calm, but ready to attack.”"

Syracuse will be attacking the road over the next two weeks. In Week 9 the Strong will play the Monroe County Sting.