Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast) knocked out Florida State (1-2, 0-2), 30-7, on Saturday in front of 37,457 people in the Carrier Dome.

Though starting quarterback Eric Dungey didn’t complete the first half, Syracuse made off with a statement win early in the season behind an improved pass rush and backup quarterback Tommy DeVito.

Here’s whose stock is rising and falling after Saturday’s performance.

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Stock up

Tommy DeVito

With Eric Dungey looking on from the bench, Tommy DeVito took control of Syracuse’s offense late in the second quarter. He led the Orange to 27 of its 30 points, including three touchdown drives.

The redshirt freshman signal caller entered the game after Dungey took a late hit scrambling up the middle. Initially, the offense sputtered as SU stuck to inside handoffs, but eventually the Orange broke through.

DeVito’s best completion may have been his first, a 16-yard sideline completion to Jamal Custis setting up first and goal at the one yard line. DeVito made a couple more top-notch throws and looked comfortable conducting the offense throughout the second half.

DeVito’s final stat line: 11-for-16 passing for 144 yards and a touchdown and seven carries for nine yards and a touchdown.

Pass rush

Against Western Michigan and Wagner, Syracuse produced three sacks for 21 yards. On Saturday, SU lived in Florida State’s backfield and Stephen A. Smith took notice.

https://twitter.com/stephenasmith/status/1041035586922995712

By game’s end, Syracuse had tallied four sacks for 32 lost yards, along with five other hits and hurries on FSU quarterback Deondre Francois. Florida State’s offensive line struggled to protect Francois their first two weeks and didn’t show much improvement Saturday.

Kendall Coleman led the way for the defensive line with two sacks, while Alton Robinson and Kingsley Jonathan put Francois on the turf once each.

On top of sacks, SU tallied three more tackles for loss.

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The secondary

Through three games in 2018, Syracuse has two more interceptions than it did a year ago, including one against the Seminoles.

Chris Fredrick ran hip-to-hip with his man down the FSU sideline when Francois let the ball fly. Fredrick broke to the middle and a step later plucked the ball away before it could reach the FSU receiver.

After getting victimized by D’Wayne Eskridge and Western Michigan in Week 1, SU’s secondary has stymied its two opponents since, allowing 425 total passing yards and a single passing touchdown.

Stock down

Eric Dungey’s health

A common sight of Syracuse football the past three seasons is No. 2 standing on the sideline, helmet in hand. That familiar image returned to the Carrier Dome on Saturday.

Dungey exited the game after taking a late hit on a scramble up the middle. After the game, head coach Dino Babers said Dungey’s early exit stemmed from “blurred vision” in Dungey’s right eye.

The quarterback has been slightly banged up, notably wearing tape on his right shoulder since Week 1 for a cut, Dungey said.

And while DeVito proved himself more than capable, leading SU’s offense for a majority of the game, there is no doubt this is Dungey’s team. Syracuse needs its starting quarterback to be healthy.

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Pass protection

Syracuse’s offensive line has been one of the most improved units for SU this season. With more talent and experience than any offensive line in recent memory and has bulldozed the way for the Orange to average 4.8 yards per carry.

But on Saturday, it surrendered three sacks. Keeping Dungey and DeVito upright is critical for this team to be successful, and three sacks for 24 yards won’t be sustainable.

The line held up well in the first two games, albeit against inferior pass rushers. As ACC play continues and Syracuse faces better and better pass rushes — see Clemson — the offensive line simply must protect the quarterback at all costs.

Carrier Dome temperatures

On a hot, sunny day like Saturday, the Carrier Dome becomes central New York’s biggest greenhouse.

Officially, the ambient air temperature in the Dome on Saturday was reported to be in the low- to mid-80s, but it felt hotter. Florida State players seemed to face frequent cramps. The air in the Dome is completely still, so people marinate in the humidity of the armpit sweat of 37,000 other people.

On Saturday, the Carrier Dome was a wholly unpleasant place to watch a football game. Those renovations can’t come soon enough.

Published on September 16, 2018 at 9:00 pm

Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham