Central Michigan forced overtime with a 12-play, 90-yard drive in which Rush tossed the dramatic touchdown pass to McCord.The teams traded first-quarter field goals before Dungey scored on a 4-yard run with 1:11 left in the first quarter. Strickland took off down the right sideline for a 25-yard touchdown, putting the Orange ahead 17-3. “When I saw the replay, I’m just like ‘Eric, get up'”. He didn’t return. Meanwhile, Stanitzek was tagged for a roughing the passer penalty and ejected. X-rays were negative, but Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said it was too soon to tell whether he could play next week against Indiana.
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But the play ended with Dungey on the ground, surrounded by team personnel.
Central Michigan has three sophomores on its offensive line and while the other two are seniors, there will be opportunities for Syracuse to exploit inexperience. Mitch is a very aggressive guy, he is not a dirty player. It was a do-or-die play for Central Michigan, and they’ll be thanking the football Gods for that one for a while. Central Michigan Chippewas recorded 222.0 passing yards and 158.8 rushing yards while allowed 211.4 passing yards and 119.8 russhing yards with turnover differential of 0.5.
Dungey, a freshman, threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns in the second half following a slow opening 30 minutes against the Demon Deacons.
“It’s like you hit a wall, almost, and you’re trying to climb up it, you’re trying to get it around it, but you can’t because it’s a never-ending wall”, Fredericks said about Syracuse’s second-half woes.
College Football has been filled with plenty of drama in the first three weeks of the season, and Central Michigan has delivered again to keep the streak going.
The Orange defense, which had made plays when it mattered most all game, executed a final stop for its offense in the overtime period, holding the Chippewas to a field goal following a disgusting failed handoff up the middle on third down. Dungey, a true freshman, was the backup and his removal called for third-stringer Austin Wilson to enter the game for the Orange. “I raised my hand and he looked and I came down with it”.
On the above play in the first quarter, Syracuse brings a cornerback blitz from Rush’s left, freeing up wide receiver Jesse Kroll. The 430 yards were the second-most the junior has ever thrown for, behind only the 493 he amassed last season in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
“Jason’s done a nice job this week”, Shafer said. “We had to adjust to the elements”.
The Orange was also down starting center Rob Trudo and tight end Josh Parris.
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“I think we take a lot of pride in being a rush defense”, Shafer said. “Standards are higher than they’ve ever been around here, so we expect to win every game that we play”.
