Dino Babers passed his first test as Syracuse head coach with flying colors and the Orange (1-0) trounced Colgate (0-1), 33-7, while flaunting the high-powered offense that everyone inside the program has raved about. Here are three quick observations from SU’s season-opening win.

Efficient Eric

The sophomore quarterback completed his first 13 passes and while most of them were short throws, a 43-yard dart to Amba Etta-Tawo highlighted Dungey’s opening stint of 2016. His first incomplete pass finally came five seconds into the second quarter on his 14th throw, but he managed to rebound and go 17-of-19 for 192 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

In attendance was Dungey’s older brother Matt, who is in the Army and surprised his brother with a visit to the Carrier Dome alongside Dungey’s parents and sister, Emma. All of them witnessed Eric embody efficiency as he orchestrated a fast-paced offense that was finally put to the test after months of hype.

Dungey’s most impressive play of the night may have been his fourth-quarter scramble, when he evaded three Colgate defenders before finding Ervin Philips for a 4-yard score to make it 33-7. He finished with two touchdowns while completing 34-of-40 passes for 355 yards, both career highs.

The New Guy

Etta-Tawo’s previous career-highs in catches and receiving yards were six and 109, respectively. Those two totals came against Syracuse on Nov. 9, 2013 when he was playing for Maryland.

He had six grabs for 108 yards and a touchdown in the first half, as the Terrapins graduate transfer caught passes of 43 and 37 yards from Dungey in the opening 30 minutes to establish a connection in their first game as teammates.

Etta-Tawo was Dungey’s lone deep threat while the quarterback opted to use Steve Ishmael and Ervin Philips on short- and middle-distance throws. Etta-Tawo added a 28-yard sideline grab in the third quarter and a spectacular 40-yard haul-in while somehow dragging his left foot in bounds minutes later. He finished with 210 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches in an eye-popping debut for the Orange.

Swervin’ Ervin

By the end of the first quarter, Philips had already eclipsed his career single-game high for receptions with seven. He was a major benefactor of the quick, pass-happy Syracuse offense, often receiving short-yardage dump-offs from Dungey and turning them into decent gains.

He tied Art Monk’s Syracuse single-game receptions record of 14 with his 4-yard touchdown grab early in the fourth quarter but didn’t surpass it since Babers opted for the second- and third-teamers as time wound down in the fourth quarter.

Philips’ 87 yards in the air on his 14 catches bested his 2015 season-high by 12 yards in Syracuse’s convincing win over the Raiders.

Published on September 2, 2016 at 10:11 pm

Contact Matt: mcschnei@syr.edu | @matt_schneidman