Syracuse shocks #17 Virginia Tech, 31-17
SYRACUSE, N.Y.- Syracuse has beaten a ranked opponent. That’s something we haven’t been able to say since November 2012.
The Orange (3-4, 1-2 ACC) shocked #17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-1) 31-17 in the Carrier Dome Saturday to earn its first win over an AP top-25 team since SU beat Louisville 45-26 four years ago.
Just seven games into his tenure at Syracuse, head coach Dino Babers already has a signature win.
“Any time you take over a new program you’re trying to get everybody to buy in,” Babers said. “You’re trying to get everyone to work as one. No matter how hard you try to do that, there are always the naysayers… It’s always that way until you get that one win that solidifies you.”
After suffering a 28-9 loss to Wake Forest last Saturday, Syracuse came into its matchup with the Hokies as the heavy underdog. But the Orange controlled the game from the start, only faltering briefly in the third quarter before regaining the lead.
Syracuse got a gutsy performance from quarterback Eric Dungey, who was called upon to do more against Virginia Tech than he had in any other game in his career. Dungey finished with a career high in pass attempts (53) and rushing attempts (24), leading the team in both carries and rushing yards with 106.
The sophomore took a number of hits, including one in the second quarter that forced him to leave the game. He returned for the next possession with a brace on his right knee that he would keep for the remainder of the game.
“The training staff did a good job,” Dungey said after the game. “They let me go back in. I was going to go back in regardless.”
Dungey finished the game with 109 yards on the ground to complement 311 yards through the air. He accounted for two of the offense’s
Dungey had help as well. Both running back Dontae Strickland and Erv Phillips threw passes for SU, and Stickland’s was an 84-yard bomb for a touchdown.
The win puts Syracuse within a game of a .500 record. Next weekend, the Orange travels to Boston College to take on the 3-3 Eagles.
