Syracuse (4-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) overwhelmed Connecticut (1-3, 0-1 American Athletic), 51-21, on Saturday in the Carrier Dome.

Racing out to an early 21-0 lead, it seemed SU would bag UConn without a thought, but a quick strike touchdown from the Huskies and tackling troubles let UConn hang around. Despite 430 yards of offense and 10 more first downs, what felt like a blowout for SU was at halftime a comfortable, if not precarious, 31-14 game.

But Eric Dungey, the pass rush and Sean Riley pulled SU away in the second half for the win that pushes the Orange to 4-0 for the first time since 1991.

Here are three reactions from the game.

Pass rush hour

Syracuse’s pass rush feasted on Saturday. From the opening snap to the end of the game, the defensive line lived in UConn’s backfield, led by Alton Robinson.

Robinson dominated, racking up three sacks for 15 yards and five total tackles. Even when Robinson wasn’t burying UConn quarterback David Pindell in the turf, he was consistently beating his man around the edge and forcing Pindell out of the pocket and putting hits on him when he felt brave enough to stand in it.

Robinson’s most impressive sack came in the second quarter in a 41-14 game. UConn started a drive at its 10-yard line. Pindell took a shotgun snap and one step into his drop, Robinson, flying off the right edge unblocked, leveled the quarterback for a six-yard loss.

Joining Robinson’s sack party were Kendall Coleman, Antwan Cordy and Kielan Whitner with one sack each. Coleman also shot off the right edge early in the third quarter to decimate a UConn sweep play for a loss.

By game’s end Syracuse totaled 31 sack yards and three other hits on Pindell.

The Eric Dungey show

At halftime, Eric Dungey had accounted for 238 of Syracuse 430 yards. The senior signal caller came out on a mission after sitting out a majority of last week’s win over Florida State.

In the first quarter, he accounted for all three of Syracuse’s touchdowns, including two rushing touchdowns. The latter of the two was a nine-yard keeper up the middle that featured Dungey dragging multiple defenders into the end zone with him.

In complete command throughout the game, Dungey picked apart the Huskies. He drew the UConn line offsides midway through the second quarter and floated a ball to Taj Harris running into a soft spot of the defense. Two plays later, Dungey galloped to the three. The ensuing play was a three-yard sneak that earned SU a first down but not a touchdown.

The next play, Dungey bulldozed his way in.

Redshirt freshman Tommy DeVito relieved Dungey in the fourth quarter after the senior went 21-for-27 for 286 yards and two touchdowns, plus 16 carries for 77 yards and three touchdowns.

On Saturday, Dungey wouldn’t be denied.

Enter return man

For the first 30 minutes of the game, Sean Riley terrorized Connecticut’s kick coverage teams. In the first half, he averaged 30 yards per kick or punt return. Then, he got serious.

With 10:35 remaining in the third quarter, and Syracuse leading 31-14, the game hit a lull. SU’s offense stalled and UConn wasn’t showing a sign of life. From their 21, UConn punted away.

---

---

Riley reeled in the punt on his own 31-yard line, near the right sideline. He immediately stepped left toward the middle of the field and took off. Sixty nine yards later, Riley cruised into the end zone for his first punt return touchdown of the season.

In the fourth quarter, the game was hitting a similar dull spot. Syracuse had the game in control and was inching up the field. After crossing midfield, Dungey found Riley on a crossing route before the junior burst toward the sideline and curled upfield away from the reaches of his defenders.

The 49-yard touchdown reception was the second touchdown catch of Riley’s career, and it finally killed any doubts being sown about who would win Saturday.

Published on September 22, 2018 at 7:33 pm

Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham