Recap: Syracuse 50, CCSU 7

Friday, September 1

Syracuse, NY

7 pm

Syracuse University

1-0

Central Connecticut State

0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

C. Connecticut State

Syracuse

9/1/2017 8:57:00 PM | Football

Box Score Cuse TV: Highlights Cuse TV: Dino Babers Press Conference CuseTV: Players Press Conference Photo Gallery Postgame Notes Quotes

Orange win opener for fourth straight season

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Quarterback Eric Dungey completed 28-of-36 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns and Syracuse (1-0) claimed its fourth straight season-opening win with a 50-7 victory against Central Connecticut State (0-1) on Friday, Sept. 1 in the Carrier Dome. Dungey, who tied the school record with his seventh 300-yard passing game, added two rushing touchdowns and finished with 379 total yards.

The Orange racked up 586 yards compared to 167 for the Blue Devils and ran 36 more offensive plays.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Syracuse came away with touchdowns on each of its first three possessions and never looked back. After winning the coin toss and electing to receive, it took 2:52 for the Orange to get on the board. Mixing the run and pass, Dungey guided Syracuse 70 yards in eight plays. He capped the drive with a jog into the end zone on an 11-yard bootleg.

On Syracuse's next series, it took less than a minute to add to the total. The Orange covered 50 yards in four plays and Dontae Strickland trotted in from six yards away. An 11-yard TD pass from Dungey to Ervin Philips on the the team's third possession pushed the Syracuse advantage to 21-0.

CCSU's only points came on the opening possession of the second half, a 24-yard scoring pass from Jake Dolegala to Jose Garcia that made it 31-7.

OF NOTE
In his first game action since Nov. 5, 2016, Dungey showed very little rust. He completed his first 13 attempts for 167 yards and a touchdown. His first misfire came with less than 30 seconds left in the opening quarter on a deep attempt to Steve Ishmael. Dungey had also completed his last pass attempt of the prior season, against Clemson, before his year was ended by injury. In all, Dungey connected on 14 straight throws. The performance was reminiscent of last year's opener against Colgate when Dungey hit on his first 13 throws in a 33-7 triumph over Colgate.

The junior signal-caller moved into seventh on Syracuse's career list with 42 touchdowns responsible for. His seven 300-yard passing performances have come in just 18 games. By comparison, former Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib achieved the same number in 48 career appearances from 2009-12.

The Orange defense was especially stingy on third down. The Blue Devils were 1-of-15, including 0-of-8 to start the game. Syracuse's ability to get off the field resulted in just eight first downs for the Blue Devils, the fewest ever against a Dino Babers coached team. Central Connecticut State punted 12 times, one short of the Syracuse opponent record (13 by Holy Cross in 1968) and went three-and-out on 12 occasions.

At halftime, Ishmael had already equaled his career high for catches with eight. He didn't stop there and finished the contest with a game-best 12 receptions for 134 yards. It was Ishmael's third career 100-yard receiving game and he vaulted into ninth place on the program's career receiving yardage list (1,678).

With the victory, Syracuse improved its record in season-opening games to 82-42-4. Here are some other notable first-game nuggets:

The Orange are now 70-18-4 in home openers.
Coach Dino Babers is 2-0 in season beginners with the Orange. He is the first Syracuse coach to win his first two openers since Paul Pasqualoni (1991, 1992).
Syracuse has captured four consecutive campaign starters.
The Orange improved to 11-9 in openers in the Dome.

THEY SAID IT
Dungey on tying Ryan Nassib's Syracuse record for career 300-yard passing games:
"It's awesome. I have nothing but respect for Ryan Nassib. His picture is in the weight room, so I'm always looking up at that. It's kind of some motivation and he's a great guy."

UP NEXT
Syracuse's undefeated 1987 team will celebrate its 30th anniversary next Saturday, Sept. 9, when the Orange host Middle Tennessee. Many members of that successful squad have already committed to return to the Dome for the festivities, including team captains Don McPherson and Paul Frase. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra.

Tickets are available for the matchup with Middle Tennessee online, by phone (888-DOMETIX), at Destiny USA kiosks and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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