Clemson Tigers vs Syracuse Orange Match Player Stats On Oct 13, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Oct 13, 2017

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- No. 2 Clemson lost its starting quarterback, its vaunted defense's air of invincibility, and perhaps a chance for a second consecutive national championship Friday night as the Syracuse Orange stunned the Tigers 27-24 in an Atlantic Coast Conference game before 42,475 fans at the Carrier Dome.

Cole Murphy's 30-yard field goal with 9:41 remaining proved to be the difference as the Orange (4-3, 2-1) defeated a Top 10 team for the first time since a 50-42 win over No. 7 Virginia Tech in 2002.

The Tigers, who had the longest winning streak in the nation at 11 games, had throttled Syracuse 54-0 last year at Clemson.

Clemson lost starting quarterback Kelly Bryant in the second quarter, and allowed more touchdowns in the first three quarters (three) than it permitted in its previous six games combined (two).

After Clemson botched a fake punt with a long incomplete pass by punter Will Spiers, Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey sealed the win with a key 15-yard completion to wide receiver Steve Ishmael on a 3rd-and-11 play from the Orange 49-yard line. Then, on 3rd-and-8 from the Clemson 34, Dungey rushed for eight yards and a first down.

Dungey, one of the nation's most dynamic quarterbacks, completed 20 of 32 pass attempts for 278 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 61 yards against a Clemson defense that had allowed only 264.3 yards and 11.3 points per game.

Bryant was 12 for 17 for 116 yards before his injury. Redshirt freshman Zerrick Cooper completed 10 of 14 attempts for 88 yards.

Cooper replaced Bryant and guided the Tigers to a game-tying field goal on their second possession of the second half. Cooper, who had played in all six of Clemson's previous games and had attempted 14 passes, set up Alex Spence's 35-yard field goal with a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud on a 3rd-and-16 play.

The Orange answered with Dungey's legs and arm. Dungey rushed for 45 yards after a quick pump fake and then teamed up with Ishmael for a 30-yard touchdown pass along the right sideline to give Syracuse a 24-17 lead.

That drive lasted 1:15. Clemson scored even faster -- 56 seconds -- as running back Travis Etienne bolted through the right side of the line and scampered 48 yards untouched for the touchdown that evened the score at 24.

The Tigers had a chance to take the lead near the end of the third quarter, but Spence's 38-yard field goal attempt was wide left. Spence also missed a 35-yarder in the first quarter.

Bryant apparently re-injured his right ankle late in the first half, when he was wrapped in a bear hug by Syracuse defensive tackle Chris Slayton. Bryant was escorted to the locker room before the half ended.

Clemson, which had allowed only two touchdowns in the first half all season, trailed 14-7 midway through the second quarter and Syracuse was marching down the field poised to score again.

In fact, the Orange did score on Dungey's 30-yard pass to Ishmael, but Ishmael was whistled for pushing off and the touchdown was called back.

On 3rd-and-long from the Syracuse 45, Dungey dumped a pass to running back Dontae Strickland, who lunged forward to the 39 and the ball was stripped by safety Isaiah Simmons. Safety Tanner Muse scooped the ball at the 37 and raced 63 yards to the end zone to knot the score at 14.

Syracuse bounced back with a 12-play drive that ended on the Clemson 4-yard line after Dungey had to leave the game for one play because of an injury and backup Zack Mahoney was hauled down for a 3-yard loss. Cole Murphy nailed a 22-yard field goal to give the Orange a 17-14 advantage.

The Orange received the opening kickoff and went 72 yards on 10 plays with Dungey running for two first downs and then connecting with Strickland on a 23-yard screen pass that went for a touchdown after Strickland dodged one tackle.

The Tigers responded by scoring on just three plays, with running back Tavien Feaster bolting through the left side of the line and racing untouched 37 yards into the end zone. That seemed to restore order for the heavily favored Tigers, but Dungey found wide receiver Erv Phillips over the middle and Phillips completed a 66-yard touchdown play that gave Syracuse a 14-7 lead.

NOTES: Before Friday, the Tigers had won 11 consecutive games on their opponent's home field, which was the third-best road streak in the country. ... The Orange ARE now 3-6 overall in games they have played against defending national champions since the AP poll was created in 1936. Before Friday, their last win over a defending national champ was against Michigan in 1998. ... Clemson entered Friday's game as one of only three teams averaging at least 230 yards rushing and passing (Ohio State and Oregon are the others).