Clemson Week: A Syracuse football upset for the ages and a near ‘nother

Clemson Week is becoming a sort of tradition on the Hill. One game in particular put Syracuse football on the map, and they almost repeated.

October 13, 2017. Syracuse football – 27. Number two Clemson – 24.

You ask any Syracuse fan about that date and they know what happened. The plays that made it happen. The toughness of Eric Dungey. The blocked punt to seal the win. The rushing of the field and the miracle of a game on one Friday in October.

A recap wouldn’t even do it justice, because this game was more than that. It was about an Orange team that had been forgotten. But they had a leader like no one else who was set in giving his team a chance to pull off the upset of the century. And boy did he deliver.

Eric Dungey was as near perfect as the risk-taking quarterback may ever be. 278 yards on 20-of-32 throwing with three touchdowns was just enough to manage the game correctly and take a few deep shots to throw off the Clemson defense.

Dungey ran for another 61 yards on 21 carries, with one in particular where he scampered for 45 yards down the Clemson sideline.

But it was a team effort too. Dontae Strickland and Moe Neal combined for just over 100 yards on the ground, doing enough in the running game to keep the Tigers on their feet.

The receiving game was well-balanced as well. Five Orange players had at least two receptions, with Erv Philips’ speed and Steve Ismael’s ‘go up and get it’ mentality leading the way.

Defensively, the Orange’s four sacks and a knockout of Clemson starting QB Kelly Bryant rattled the Tigers offense.

Two missed field goals by Tigers’ kicker Alex Spence gave Syracuse life and the blocked punt on Will Spiers added insult to injury for a Dabo Swinney coached team that looked stunned as the seconds ran down the scoreboard until the game ended in the SU win.

And then they almost did it over again.

The 2018 edition featured a 4-0 Syracuse football team against a 4-0 Clemson team at ‘Death Valley’. This time, the Tigers were ranked first overall.

Dungey was spectacular yet again, passing for 250 yards and rushing for two touchdowns. However, an interception and a mediocre ground game held him back just enough for Clemson’s liking.

Syracuse had four sacks and a pick themselves and also gained life on a botched Clemson punt return, setting the Orange up for a score.

Travis Etienne was the difference, especially in the second half. The Clemson running back had over 200 rushing yards and three touchdowns, torching the Orange defense whenever he touched the ball.

But it wasn’t without a scare through the first three and a half quarters. Syracuse got off to a 16 to 7 win at halftime, and even after a pair of Clemson field goals, the Orange scored a touchdown, leading 23 to 13 with just under 13 minutes remaining.

And then Etienne took over. The RB ran for 86 yards across those final 13 minutes, scoring twice and delivering Clemson the come from behind 27 to 23 win. 

But even though Syracuse squandered a chance at a second straight upset for the ages, it officially put Syracuse football in Clemson’s head. Dabo Swinney still comments on how the Orange are a team that can compete with the Tigers regardless of record.

At a recent press conference, Swinney said, “We know firsthand here at Clemson that Syracuse is a team that can beat you. ”

Will Syracuse deliver? Saturday at noon, we’ll find out.