Unfortunately, we've found ways to be completely miserable after a win before, so this feeling isn't foreign for Syracuse fans. Still, a win is a win, and we'll take the 30-27 victory the Syracuse Orange just tallied over the Central Michigan Chippewas. The Orange are 3-0 for the first time since 1991... as crazy as that (and this win) sounds.
The main takeaway after the game, however, is not the win. It's Eric Dungey's injury following a dirty helmet-to-helmet hit knocked him out during the second quarter. He would miss the rest of the contest, handing the reins to a combination of Austin Wilson and walk-on Zach Mahoney. At first, Wilson was able to connect with Jamal Custis on a touchdown for a 24-10 halftime lead. But from then through the end of regulation, the offense was non-existent.
Syracuse managed just 41 yards of offense in the second half and over time: a far cry from the 285 yards amassed in the first two quarters. Time of possession was two-to-one in favor of Central Michigan, and the Chippewas ended up with 520 total yards (including 430 through the air by Cooper Rush). Central was still down for nearly the full second half, though -- until a touchdown pass with just seven seconds remaining on the clock. Woeful time management by Scott Shafer and the staff, coupled with deplorable secondary play, could not hold off CMU on the final drive when they managed to tie things at 24.
In overtime, CMU started strong but was held to a field goal. On the final possession, Mahoney got the Orange inside the 10 with a quick strike to Kendall Moore. Two plays later, Jordan Fredericks punched it in for the winning touchdown.
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We'll learn more about Dungey's status soon enough, but there's little to like in this win overall. Plenty more reaction posts coming today, which will dive much further into what occurred in the Carrier Dome.
