Can Eric Dungey make a miraculous comeback and be ready for LSU? A look at what Scott Shafer had to say regarding Dungey's status.
The Syracuse Orange football team is off to its first 3-0 start since 1991, but last Saturday's overtime win against Central Michigan came at a high price. Freshman quarterback Eric Dungey left the game in the second quarter after a vicious helmet-to-helmet hit and did not return.
Dungey had been a pleasant surprise to Orange fans since he started helming the offense after Terrel Hunt went down against Rhode Island. The true freshman was making big plays both with his arms and legs, throwing the ball accurately to receivers down the field and expertly running Tim Lester's option offense.
After Dungey left the game, the duo of Austin Wilson and Zack Mahoney took over, and the offense promptly stalled. The Orange forced two second-half turnovers against the Chippewas, and if they cashed in points on either of them it could have iced the game. However, the Orange didn't get much from under center, and the offensive line didn't do the team any favors either.
But somehow the Orange managed to grind out a win in overtime, and now they are on to LSU. Yes, that LSU. The one from the SEC which is ranked eighth in the AP poll this week with a Heisman front-runner at running back. Even with Dungey, Syracuse would have needed to bring their A-plus game to even have a chance. If Dungey is in street clothes, it could be a long day in the Carrier Dome.
But will Dungey be able to play? If you saw the hit he took, you would likely consider it a minor miracle for Dungey to suit up just a week later. As of now, it hasn't been ruled out...but it doesn't sound likely either.
Head coach Scott Shafer did tell Matt Park (via Cuse.com) that Dungey is "probably doubtful" for Saturday's game. He talked like he already expected to be without Dungey.
"The kids are going to rally behind them. I think both those kids are going to be competing to see who's going to get to play the most come Saturday. If we use them both, we use them both," Shafer said.
That doesn't sound like a coach who is hopeful his starter will be ready. Shafer said Dungey will be back when he is cleared by the doctors, but in the meantime it will be up to Mahoney and Wilson.
For what it's worth, Dungey is still listed as the starter on Syracuse's depth chart. But based on Shafer's comments, what it's worth is probably nothing.
If last week's game against CMU is any indication, both Wilson and Mahoney will see the field against LSU. Wilson seemed to be the more traditional quarterback used for throwing the ball downfield, whereas Mahoney came in when Shafer and Lester looked to run the option.
The option has been effective for the Orange most of the season, so I would expect Mahoney to get the nod at the beginning of the game to see what he can do. But if LSU blows it open quickly, Shafer could turn to Wilson to move the ball through the air.
It's going to a be a long day for the Orange offense either way. The defense will need to play lights out to give the team a chance. Syracuse has an encouraging future once Dungey returns. But not having him against perhaps the best team Syracuse will face all year might be too much for the Orange to overcome.
