In the Huddle: Virginia Tech

huddle in the • oct. 14-15, 2016

syracuse vs. virginia tech

2 oct. 14-15, 2016

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End of the line SU’s D-Line is battered by injuries entering its matchup with the Hokies.

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O-Line, oh boy SU’s O-Line struggled against Wake Forest and faces a tough VT defense.

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oct. 14-15, 2016 3

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REBUILDING RELOADING &

Despite being 1st-year coaches, Babers and Fuente inherit different situations

By Chris Libonati asst. sports editor

A

s Dino Babers began his press conference on Monday, he described Virginia Tech football. Bud Foster’s defense.

Twenty-three straight bowl appearances. The only thing absent from Babers’s statement that could have enhanced the description is former head coach Frank Beamer, who retired after the 2015 season.

He coached the Hokies since 1987.

Instead, new head coach Justin Fuente has taken over. And little has really changed about VT on the surface. The transition has been seamless as the Hokies have improved.

When Babers talked about Virginia Tech, it sounded much more like where he wants his program to go. The reality is that Fuente

and Babers took over at two different places in two different situations.

“Coach Beamer did not leave the cupboard empty,” Babers said during on the Atlantic Coast Conference coaches’ teleconference Wednesday.

Since Syracuse last played Virginia Tech in 2003, VT hasn’t changed, save for its new head coach. SU (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) has declined. Babers took over a program that went into neutral as it sped down a decline and rolled between the hills of a valley before settling at its bottom. Fuente picked up a banged up sports car that needed repolishing to look fresh again. On Saturday, the two coaches will hit a crossroads in the Carrier Dome at 3:45 p.m. headed two different directions.

The two coaches, who faced each other as the leaders of Bowling Green (Babers) and

1.

1. DINO BABERS left his job at Bowling Green last year but hasn’t found much success with Syracuse early on in his first season.

jessica sheldon photo editor 2. JUSTIN FUENTE left his job at Memphis last year and has bettered a Virginia Tech team he inherited. courtesy of dave knachel | virginia tech athletics

2.

Memphis (Fuente) last season, have taken over two programs with drastically different needs.

Although SU returned a higher percent of its production this season than VT, it replaced seniors with true freshmen in addition to returning starters from a 4-8 team. Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) has had more of a reload.

“I like our mentality as much as anything in terms of the kids getting a little bit of confidence in themselves,” Fuente said on the ACC teleconference, “a little bit of toughness and grit. That’s been fun to see as the season’s gone along.

“I like our progress there.”

Syracuse has struggled to get to that point all season. Players may say they use “faith,” but SU has lost four of its first six games in the easiest stretch of its schedule.

And that doesn’t inspire much that SU will improve against the Hokies this time.

In 2003, the last season VT and Syracuse played each other, the Hokies grabbed a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, extended it to 27-0 at half and finished SU off, 51-7. DeAngelo Hall returned punts of 58 and 60 yards and then ran in a 24-yard touchdown. The latter was the shortest VT touchdown play of the game.

Since that season, the Hokies have dug out a 117-48 record while the Orange has recorded a 57-95 record. The worst defensive showing

by VT in those same years was a 66th-place finish in the nation in yards per play allowed, per teamrankings.com which excludes FCS opponents. Foster’s defenses have finished top five in that category four times since then and routinely closed the season in the top 30.

Though it’s obvious with the Hokies at 4-1 and SU at 2-4 these seasons and coaches appear to be headed opposite ways for now,

it highlights just how much pressure is going to be heaped on Babers. SU is waiting on its Frank Beamer: someone who can lay a foundation for the program and then exceed it. That’s who Babers is expected to be. He has to create the traditions that programs like Virginia Tech already have.

Foster, for example, took over 21 years ago as VT’s defensive coordinator and started the tradition of carrying a lunch pail on the field. SU doesn’t have any established traditions. Former SU head coach Scott Shafer had his team burn a shoe before training camp started and on gamedays rub the Ernie Davis statue’s shoe.

That doesn’t happen at SU anymore.

And that’s also a result of coaching turnover.

In the time since Beamer took over at Virginia Tech, SU has had five different coaches. No. 44 is one of the few traditions the program has and even that has been changed various times.

As Fuente wrapped up his time on the ACC teleconference, he talked about Syracuse’s defensive end group.

“I think they’ve got a good group of young kids out there playing really hard is kind of the first thing I notice,” Fuente said. “They do have some younger guys out there playing, but they’re certainly playing with great effort.”

Young. Much of this year has been new for Babers and his players. The reality is that Fuente is in a position Babers would like to be someday. Their resumes may read “first-year head coach,” but Babers has to drag Syracuse much further than Fuente ever will. cjlibona@syr.edu @ChrisLibonati

4 oct. 14-15, 2016

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Opponent preview: What to know about the No. 17 Hokies

By Tomer Langer asst. copy editor

Syracuse (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) plays No. 17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) at 3:45 p.m. on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. SU is coming off a disappointing 28-9 loss at Wake Forest, while VT is coming off a 34-3 beat down over then-No. 17 North Carolina. Both games were played through wind and rain brought on by Hurricane Matthew.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup: All-Time Series: Syracuse leads, 9-8.

Last time they played: The last time these two teams met was in 2003 in Blacksburg, Virginia. The Hokies crushed the Orange, 51-7. DeAngelo Hall scored three touchdowns for VT, including two on punt returns, and SU was down 21-0 within the first 10 minutes of the game.

The Virginia Tech report: The Hokies’ big weapon in their hot start has been the defense. On a per-game basis, the unit ranks third in the country in total yards allowed (237.6), second in passing yards allowed (132.2) and 10th in points allowed (15.6).

In addition, VT is also the best team in the country in first downs allowed, letting opponents get just 57 first downs over the course of the season. The unit also ranks 10th in tackles for loss per game with 8.6.

On offense, Virginia Tech is led by dualthreat quarterback Jerod Evans, who’s thrown for 1,039 yards and 15 touchdowns and has run for 258 more with two more touchdowns on the ground. The Hokies are just 69th in yards per game (412), but they

Last week, Virginia Tech dominated then-No. 17 North Carolina, 34-3. The Hokies enter Saturday’s game third in the country in total yards allowed, second in passing yards allowed and 10th in tackles for loss. courtesy of dave knachel | virginia tech athletics

capitalize on those chances by averaging 39.4 points, good for 25th best. They also rank 14th in time of possession (34:08).

How Syracuse beats VT: Offensive consistency. SU’s big problem has been its lack of scoring ability after the early part of the game. In its past four games, the Orange has just 23 points of offense in the second

half. As it is, it’s going to be hard for SU to win this game. The only way that’ll happen is if the SU attack can get going — far from a sure thing against this vaunted pass defense — and stay going.

Stat to Know: 131 — VT held North Carolina’s offense to 131 yards of total offense last week.

Player to Watch: Andrew Motuapuaka, linebacker, No. 54 The redshirt junior ranks 19th in the country and second in the ACC with 9.8 tackles per game. Wake Forest found success last week sending their linebackers blitzing.

Motuapuaka could used in a similar role. tdlanger@syr.edu | @tomer_langer

Roundtable: Discussing SU’s defensive backs, 2nd receiver

By The Daily Orange Sports Staff

Syracuse (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) hosts No. 17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. It’s the two teams’ first meeting since the Hokies beat the Orange, 51-7, in 2003. Heading into the matchup, beat writers Tomer Langer, Chris Libonati and Jon Mettus answer three questions surrounding SU.

1. Has the secondary had any bright spots amid its terrible start to the season?

Tomer Langer: Do bright yellow flags flying because of pass interference calls count as “bright spots?” It’s been hard for this secondary, particularly after losing two starters to season-ending injuries. Daivon Ellison has had some nice moments, and most of the secondary has actually done a solid job tackling recently (when the DBs aren’t getting burned over the top) as Cordell Hudson, Kielan Whitner and Corey Winfield combined for 25 tackles against Wake Forest.

And if we’re looking at silver linings, none of the DBs are seniors, so experience can only help for next year.

Chris Libonati: If you watch games, you know this unit has had some head-scratching plays. That doesn’t fall totally on defensive coordinator Brian Ward, secondary coach Nick Monroe or any defensive back in particular because of the change in scheme.

One player who has stood out as outdoing the rest of the secondary is Daivon Ellison. The 5-foot-8 safety has been impressive in clean-up duty from the back end for the Orange. Despite his size — he also only weighs 177 pounds, which is actually a ninepound improvement over last season — he’s one of the secondary’s best tacklers. When he’s faced down bigger runners, he stays

down and wraps up the ball carrier. Despite not starting in the first two games and not getting much playing time, he’s third for SU with 37 tackles. In coverage, he has one interception and hasn’t been beaten as often as his counterparts. His emergence has been and will be key for SU going forward.

Jon Mettus: The secondary has looked bad for various reasons including miscommunications, poor coverage and bad routes taken to stop ball carriers. A lot of the big plays the Orange has given up — often for scores — fall on the shoulders of those in the secondary. Safety Daivon Ellison has looked the best after filling in for injured safeties Antwan Cordy and Kielan Whitner, now establishing himself as a starter. He makes plays at the line in the running games, looks like the best tackler in the secondary and has forced a fumble and snagged an interception. Cornerback Corey Winfield has been emerging slightly as a bright spot over the last three games where he’s recorded 15 tackles and broken up two passes, including a big hit in the backfield that led to an interception against Wake Forest. But he’s been plagued by missed tackles like almost every other defensive back.

2. How desperate is Syracuse to develop a second threat from the wide receiver position?

T.L.: I’m not sure it’s a matter of developing that second threat per se as much of a finding the other threats to be more consistent. Wake Forest game aside, Ervin Philips had at least six catches in every game this season and Steve Ishmael has five in each of his last two games.

But the catches all seem to come on a few drives with the offense getting shut out at other points.

The weapons are there; the offensive execution just needs to be more consistent.

C.L.: Well, I think SU has two. Amba EttaTawo and Ervin Philips. I think Philips hasn’t gotten as many looks simply because Etta-Tawo has simply been that good. In its last game against Wake Forest, Eric Dungey looked away from Etta-Tawo a lot without a ton of success. Once SU can spray the ball over the field (and get mismatches at more than one spot) rather than concentrate on one area, it’ll have more success. That’s a long way to say SU needs another outside threat more than it just needs a second general threat. If Steve Ishmael proves to be that guy remains to be seen. He’s a good receiver, but his skillset also doesn’t jibe with the system he’s in all the time. Ishmael isn’t as quick as the other wide outs on the roster. More than a second threat, SU needs to figure out its offensive line.

J.M.: It’s not just a second threat that Syracuse needs, it’s a third and maybe even fourth. Right now, Amba Etta-Tawo is the primary and basically only deep threat.

Ervin Philips has established himself as the secondary threat with 42 catches to EttaTawo’s 51, but Philips has more than 500 yards fewer than Etta-Tawo. Part of it has to do with the outrageous success that EttaTawo is having — save for the hurricanefilled Wake Forest game — but against teams with better secondaries, Eric Dungey needs to throw the ball to more than just one or two receivers when throwing it close to 50 times per game. The Orange is going to likely rely on the short passing game more, too, with a struggling offensive line and running game. It’s time for Steve Ishmael, Brisly Estime and maybe even freshman Devin Butler to step up.

3. Which SU player has to step up in order for Syracuse to have a

chance against Virginia Tech?

T.L.: The entire offensive line, honestly. A lot of pressure came up the middle last week against Wake Forest so some might single out Colin Byrne or either of the two guards.

But the truth is that this patchwork group as a whole hasn’t been that strong. It hasn’t been terrible, but it’ll need to be solid not only in pass protection but in run blocking if SU has a chance to beat VT. C.L.: Aaron Roberts/Evan Adams. Colin Byrne said WFU sent double A-gap blitzes, which is a horrendous mess to pick up and is a nightmare when you consider how patched together the SU offensive line is right now.

Byrne has played well in place of starter Jason Emerich and maybe even better than Emerich would have played, but it’ll be up to SU’s guards to aid in interior blitz pickup.

And you best believe a defensive coordinator like Bud Foster is going to try to blow up the SU offensive line with blitzes. Dino Babers mentioned Foster’s previous work during Monday’s press conference. If Babers doesn’t want his squad to end up on a highlight film for Foster, he’ll need his interior linemen to be ready.

J.M.: Colin Byrne. The success of this offensive line starts at the center, both in position and space. Pressure up the middle makes it impossible to run the ball (see the 11 tackles for a loss by Wake Forest) and hard to throw the ball (see Dino Babers’ postgame press conference where he mentioned that receivers were open but Dungey couldn’t see them because of the pressure). Byrne has been the most critical of his own play and the play of the group recently (interestingly, Dino Babers decided not to make him available to the media this week). All eyes should be on him and the middle of the offensive line.

oct. 14-15, 2016 5

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Defensive ends undermanned entering matchup with VT

By Jon Mettus asst. sports editor

Only three names immediately came to Jake Pickard’s mind when thinking about who could step up at defensive end on Saturday.

“Me, (graduate transfer) De’Jon (Wilson), (redshirt freshman Josh) Black and whoever else steps up is going to have to make sure to hold it down and have our brothers’ backs,” Pickard said.

It’s the whoever else that could be a problem. Syracuse started the season with a thin and inexperienced defensive end grouping.

Between them, none had started a snap at defensive end for the Orange.

Against Wake Forest last game, Kendall Coleman was called for targeting, earning a suspension for the first half against Virginia Tech, and Black injured what appeared to be his ankle on the first drive of the fourth quarter, never to return. He wasn’t on the injury report released Thursday so he should be a full go. That still leaves an undermanned position group headed into a matchup with No. 17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0 Atlantic Coast) and a fairly mobile quarterback in Jerod Evans on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

“You always have to be prepared for that,” Pickard said, “just what happened in that game. You never know. You guys could have a full depth one play and three plays later that could be completely tarnished.”

Black and Coleman’s plays happened two Wake Forest offensive series apart. First, Black got hurt. Then Coleman hit Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford high well after a throw, earning him a roughing the passer penalty, an ejection and a suspension after an in-game review.

Dino Babers called it a bang-bang play and didn’t see helmet-to-helmet contact, but those calls cannot be reversed after the game.

Wilson, Pickard and freshman Kenneth Ruff took over at the two spots with the starters out. Wilson is starting in Coleman’s place on Saturday and Pickard will likely

DE’JON WILSON is going to be starting for Kendall Coleman on Saturday against Virginia Tech. Coleman was suspended for the first half after a targeting call late in last week’s matchup against Wake Forest.

jessica sheldon photo editor

start if Black is too limited.

Beyond those three there aren’t many more options. Earlier in the season, defensive tackle Chris Slayton had played at defensive end. An injury to Kayton Samuels bumped Slayton back inside, but Samuels is now healthy. SU could move Slayton back to defensive end if necessary.

“We’re not going to be in too much of a disaster plan,” Pickard said. “We definitely have backups. We have other guys showing contribution that could play defensive end for us that could help us out if necessary.”

The other challenge looming for the Orange is shutting down Evans, who led his team in rushes last weekend and averages about 50 yards per game. Other teams Syra-

cuse has faced that run read-option plays — Louisville and South Florida — have fared well, compiling 250 yards on the ground with their QBs (most of which was earned

by Lamar Jackson’s 199-yard game) and 648 total rushing yards between the two games.

Those were the second and third games of the season. And since then, Babers and defensive line coach Vinson Reynolds have stressed to the young ends, “we don’t have time for you to be freshmen anymore. You guys have to step up,” Pickard recalled.

“They do have some younger guys out there playing, but they’re certainly playing with great effort,” Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente said. “Their technique has gotten better since the season started. I

think it’s apparent. They’re obviously being well coached in their schemes and their techniques.”

The Orange runs a carousel of ends in and out throughout the game to keep them fresh.

Pickard sees that as an advantage for the Orange, but thinks any of the players could last an extended amount of time on the field, or even close to a full game — which may become a reality on Saturday.

“If that time ever comes where it’s just one or two people at each position,” Pickard said, “we’re definitely going to be able to do that and still work at the highest level we can while with the lower numbers we have.” jrmettus@syr.edu @jmettus

JAKE PICKARD (99) figures to get increased playing time with the lack of depth on the line after Kendall Coleman’s suspension. Defensive end Josh Black also exited the Wake Forest game seemingly with an ankle injury but wasn’t listed on the injury report, which was released on Thursday. jessica sheldon photo editor

6 oct. 14-15, 2016

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Syracuse’s offensive line has a chance at redemption

By Paul Schwedelson sports editor

One of the country’s best defenses enters the Carrier Dome on Saturday afternoon. The No. 17 Virginia Tech Hokies rank third in the nation in yards allowed and should challenge the Syracuse offensive line all game long. jessica sheldon photo editor

shirt senior right guard Omari Palmer and redshirt senior center Jason Emerich and sophomore left tackle Cody Conway haven’t played in the last three games.

Emerich and Palmer are both listed as “out” on this week’s injury report, while Conway was not included.

That means the inexperienced group SU is left with is likely the one Syracuse will go with for most of the remainder of the year.

“With not having a lot of experience on the offensive side, especially in the interior offensive line,” Babers said, “it can be very difficult for them to handle mentally some of the things that are going on.”

The Demon Deacons repeatedly sent two players at the A gap — the space between the center and the guard. That meant Byrne had two players coming at him at once and he struggled picking them up, Dungey said.

The Orange’s five sacks allowed last week were a season high. And even when Dungey didn’t get sacked, he often scrambled from pressure.

“We’re not where we want to be,” Roberts said. “We’re going to get better. We know that.”

Offensive line coach Mike Lynch hasn’t changed his approach, Adams said. He’s still consistent in what he preaches. He just needs his players to do their job.

While Palmer and Emerich have been hurt, they’ve assisted Lynch and the rest of the offensive linemen. Adams said Palmer, the player he replaced, has discussed footwork technique and shown Adams drills to practice individually.

As a result of Syracuse’s fast-paced style, Roberts said linemen need to understand blitz packages before the game even starts. Seconds before each snap is too late. And against a team like Virginia Tech, which ranks third in the nation in yards allowed per game (237.6), SU can’t afford more mishaps along the offensive line.

Before the season started, Babers said games were won and lost in the trenches.

He compared linemen to hippos and elephants. And with a matchup against the Hokies looming, SU’s depleted group is prepping to correct its mistakes.

“They bring a lot,” Adams said. “They play any front you could think of so it’s going to be important that we stick to our A game.” pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds

TAKING A BEATING With Syracuse’s offensive line depleted in recent weeks, quarterback Eric Dungey has been sacked more often

Wake Forest 5

5

Louisville 4

4

Sacks

As Eric Dungey lay on the ground, center Colin Byrne and right guard Evan Adams stood still staring down at him. A costly error by the two redshirt freshmen manifested in Dungey taking the brunt of their mistake.

Wake Forest defensive tackle Josh Banks busted through the core of Syracuse’s offensive line on the third play of Saturday’s contest. Byrne’s body shifted toward the left and Banks split in between him and Adams — right through the A gap.

Dungey was sacked, the first of five times against WFU, on his first drop back of the contest. The Orange was forced to punt, and a game in which Syracuse’s offense scored just seven points was off to a start that foreshadowed its end.

“The best thing that Wake Forest did was they attacked some of our young people inside,” Orange head coach Dino Babers said, “and we need to be able to do things to help them in that situation.”

Without three of its five starters, SU’s offensive line has struggled, especially in the interior. All five linemen against Wake Forest were first-year starters. Byrne, Adams and redshirt sophomore left guard Aaron Roberts make up the group that could be the biggest key for Syracuse’s (2-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast) offense to run smoothly against No. 17 Virginia Tech (4-1, 2-0) on Saturday at 3:45 p.m. in the Carrier Dome.

Earlier in the week, Babers said two of the three injured former starting offensive linemen are “pretty much done for the year.” He didn’t say whom, but red-

3

2

1

Notre Dame 2

Colgate 2

Connecticut 1

South Florida 1

Opponent

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oct. 14-15, 2016 7

8 september 30, 2016

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PHILIPS

ERVIN

ISHMAEL

STEVE

10 oct. 14-15, 2016

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oct. 14-15, 2016 11

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PREGAME PLAYBOOK stacking up

beat writer predictions

key players

TOMER LANGER (2-1)

Here’s how Syracuse and Virginia Tech compare statistically this season SYRACUSE

virginia tech 34, syracuse 17

ORANGE IS THE NEW LAST Virginia Tech’s team, led by first year head coach Justin Fuente, is legit. Its top-three defense has locked down almost every opponent this year (save for top 10 team Tennessee) and its strength is in limiting opponents’ passing attacks. Given the fact that Syracuse has shown an inability to run the ball all year, it might be throwing early and often. It’ll take a lot for the Orange to crack through that vaunted aerial defense, and in the end I don’t think it’ll be able to pull it off.

VIRGINIA TECH

POINTS PER GAME

YARDS PER GAME

39.4

466.8 410.8

25.7

POINTS ALLOWED PER GAME

YARD ALLOWED PER GAME

CHRIS LIBONATI (5-1)

475.2

36

virginia tech 42, syracuse 21

36 237.6

15.6

ERIC DUNGEY

the rematch A Dino Babers-led Bowling Green team faced a Justin Fuente-led Memphis team in 2015. Memphis won, 44-41, in the shootout between the two offensive-minded coaches. They’ll meet again as ACC foes on Saturday.

MEMPHIS

BOWLING GREEN

1,886 passing yards sixth most in the country

165 completions most in the acc

255 passing attempts most in the acc

COMPLETION PERCENTAGE

72.5% 62.2%

YARDS PER PLAY

PASSING YARDS

WHAT’S UP, BUD? Syracuse, meet Bud Foster’s defense. Bud Foster’s defense, meet your Saturday lunch.

Syracuse fans may be banned from eating the batter, but the Hokie defense isn’t. The VT defense is going to bring out its lunch pail on Saturday and pack the Orange away early. VT is riding high after a solid start. Save for a loss to Tennessee, a team now ranked in the Top 10, Virginia Tech has looked every bit a contender in the Atlantic Coast Conference, especially in a 34-3 win over North Carolina last weekend.

JON METTUS (5-1)

virginia tech 45, syracuse 20

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES This one is going to be far from easy for Syracuse on both sides of the ball. Virginia Tech’s offense is capable enough to put on a show in the Dome — especially against a depleted Orange secondary that just got even more depleted with Cordell Hudson being ruled out. Carl Jones, good luck in your first start. The offense gets left tackle Cody Conway back, but VT boasts a solid defense that is third in the nation in yards allowed and 10th in points allowed.

The Hokies are going to get ahead early.

Syracuse, catch them if you can.

443

7.8

none shall pass

386

6

19.2% POINTS PER QUARTER

Virginia Tech's third-down defense is second best in the country, allowing opponents to convert only 19.2 percent of the time

17 14 POINTS

13

they said it 10

10 7

1ST QUARTER

2ND QUARTER

85

7

3RD QUARTER

7

4TH QUARTER

Memphis and Bowling Green combined for 85 points when they played last year

AMBA ETTA-TAWO 876 receiving yards most in the country

51 receptions fifth most in the country

6 receiving touchdowns ninth most in the country

I’ve seen Dino’s offense up close and personal, coached against him last year when he was at Bowling Green. The speed with which they move is hard to duplicate.

Justin Fuente virginia tech head coach

12 oct. 14-15, 2016

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Time machine: Syracuse loses, 22-14, to No. 2 Va. Tech Editor’s note: The article below is a republished game story from The Daily Orange’s Oct. 24, 2000 edition. Then-sports editor Jeff Passan wrote it on Syracuse blowing a 14-point lead in a 22-14 loss to then-No. 2 Virginia Tech.

Fate spun itself into a dandy treat Saturday night.

It put the Syracuse Orangemen in prime position to know off undefeated, unscathed, second-ranked Virginia Tech.

And, with the swift whack of a sledgehammer and screeching laugh of a hyena, it pulled it all away.

Cruelly, it did so via the turnover. And for the second consecutive Saturday, mishaps on offense did the Orangemen in.

Two second-half giveaways deep in their own territory — and five turnovers in the game — spoiled Syracuse’s bid to upset Virginia Tech, which escaped the Carrier Dome with a 22-14 comeback victory.

“In close games, it usually comes down to the turnover thing,” SU coach Paul Pasqualoni said. “And we did not win the turnover battle. If it’s going to be a close game, how

can you win a close game when you don’t win the turnover battle?”

You can’t, SU proved.

At least not when, after shutting down the Hokies’ potent offense all game, you give them back-to-back possessions at the 5- and 21-yard lines.

The first mishap occurred with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. SU (3-4, 1-2 Big East), still holding its 14-3 halftime lead, was buried deep in its own end after a pooch punt to the 2.

On third-and-10, quarterback Troy Nunes attempted to drop back to pass. But right guard Vaughn Smith inadvertently stepped on Nunes’ foot, causing the quarterback to slip.

A wayward attempt at a pass flew into the Virginia Tech (7-0, 5-0) defensive backfield, causing the packed Carrier Dome of 49,033 to shout a collective, “Oh, no.” Its call was answered with a Willie Pile pick — his second of three in the game — and he returned it to the 5.

Two plays later, Lee Suggs took an option pitch left and danced into the end zone.

After a failed two-point conversion, the Hokies trailed, 14-9.

“It’s a bang-bang play,” Nunes said of his second interception. “I’m falling down and just trying to get rid of the ball. Obviously, two points is better than six at that point.”

Said offensive coordinator George DeLeone: “We just shook our head. It was a tough play. I know his intentions were good. But at that point it was a tough decision to make.

“The thing Troy needs to do a better of in that situation is not make a bad play worse.”

The next trip down the field Nunes did everything right.

A holding penalty left SU at is 12-yard line,

and on second down Nunes, who threw four picks, rolled left from his three-wide set.

He found Maurice Jackson — the recipient of a bobbled 56-yard reception and gorgeous 78-yard touchdown in the first quarter — who spun away from his first defender.

But in a play reminiscent of two years ago, when SU beat Tech, 28-26, on a last second Donovan McNabb-to-Steve Brominski touchdown, Jackson tried to do too much and fumbled.

In ’98, Loren Johnson returned it for a touchdown. On Saturday, Jake Houseright returned it to the 21.

The Hokies pounded the ball on six consecutive plays, and Suggs scored his second touchdown of the game and 14th of the season to give the Hokies their first lead, 15-14.

Again, they missed a two-point conversion.

In all, it was 4 minutes, 11 seconds of doom. Turnovers, already the Orangemen’s biggest deterrent this season, again crushed SU. “The fumble really hurt us. Those two turnovers really swung the momentum around,” DeLeone said. “In every game that Virginia Tech wins, there’s a breaking point that happens.

Those two drives really got us out of sync.”

“We just gave this game away,” defensive end Dwight Freeney said. “We dominated on the defensive side of the ball. We had a few mistakes on the offensive side of the ball.”

Syracuse did not dominate, holding Heisman Trophy candidate Michael Vick to 84 total yards, his worst collegiate output.

Fifty-five of them came on the gamesealing touchdown, a bootleg scamper with 1:34 remaining that showcased Vick’s amazing athleticism and sheer speed.

He zoomed down the left sideline after

faking a handoff to Suggs, outrunning two SU defenders and bounding into the end zone. He calmly flipped the ball up and took one knee, glad he finally escaped the grasps of the Syracuse defenders that so plagued him all game long.

Tech’s lone first-half points came on Carter Worley’s 47-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. The Hokies, whose offense entering the game ranked fourth in the nation, mustered just 78 total yards in the first stanza.

“At halftime we knew exactly what we had to do,” VT head coach Frank Beamer.

“They helped us a little bit in the second half, but there’s something about this team hanging around and finding a way to win.”

They hung and hit the Orangemen hard.

Under. 500 again, SU must win three of its final four games (West Virginia, Temple, Miami and Rutgers) if it harbors any shot at its sixth consecutive bowl appearance.

The sophomore quarterback threw eight interceptions the past two weeks, bringing his season total to 13. And again, the passing game dovetailed, and Nunes could not lead the Orangemen in late-game drives.

The most telling statistic for the Orangemen: in the first three quarters, they outscore opponents, 166-85; in the fourth quarter, opponents outscore them, 41-10.

And again on Saturday, the trends that so hinder this version of the Syracuse Orangemen continued.

“We played hard and we played well against one of the best teams in the country,” Nunes said. “Again, we had some mistakes, and it is hard to comeback from those mistakes.”

An SU fan shows his feelings about former head coach Paul Pasqualoni at the Carrier Dome. With the loss, the Orange dropped to 3-4 in 2002. daily orange file photo

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2016 SYRACUSE FOOTBALL ROSTER NO. & NAME

POSITION

HT.

WT.

1 Brisly Estime

WR

5-9

183 Sr.

Delray Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community

42 Joe Stanard

DB

5-10 202 Sr.

Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker

2 Eric Dungey

QB

6-3

207 So.

Lake Oswego, Ore. / Lakeridge

43 Terell Drayton

LB

5-11

Rosedale, N.Y. / Townsend Harris

2 Wayne Morgan

DB

5-11

193

R-Sr. Brooklyn, N.Y. / Erasmus Hall

45 Kenneth Ruff

DL/TE 6-1

3 Ervin Philips

WR

5-11

176

Jr.

4 Zaire Franklin

LB

6-0

230 Jr.

Philadelphia, Pa. / La Salle College

4 Dontae Strickland

RB

5-11

199

Dayton, N.J. / South Brunswick

47 Matt Keller

LS

5-11

222 So.

Willow Street, Pa. / Penn Manor

5 Austin Wilson

QB

6-3

222 R-Jr.

Camp Hill, Pa. / East Pennsboro

48 Cole Murphy

K

6-3

200 Jr.

Castaic, Calif. / Valencia

6 Rodney Williams

DB

5-10 186

49 Alryk Perry

LB

6-1

217

Columbus, Ga. / Glenwood School

7 Amba Etta-Tawo

WR

6-2

202 R-Sr. Powder Springs, Ga. / McEachern

51 Jaquwan Nelson

DL

6-3

235 Fr.

8 Antwan Cordy

DB

5-8

175

Jr.

Homestead, Fla. / South Dade

52 Kayton Samuels

DL

6-0

314

8 Steve Ishmael

WR

6-2

210

Jr.

Miami, Fla. / North MIami Beach

53 Nathan Hines

LS

6-6

248 Jr.

Catonsville, Md. / Catonsville

9 Juwan Dowels

DB

5-10 180

R-So. Sunrise, Fla. / American Heritage

54 Tyler Cross

DL

6-2

279 R-Fr.

Douglassville, Ga. / Northview

10 Mo Hasan

QB

6-3

186

Fr.

Coral Gables, Fla. / Dillard

55 Kendall Coleman

DL

6-3

252 Fr.

Indianapolis, Ind. / Cathedral

10 Sean Riley

WR

5-8

151

Fr.

Playa del Rey, Calif. / Narbonne

56 Liam O’Sullivan

OL

6-8

271

Fr.

Chicago, Ill. / Maine South

11 Corey Winfield

DB

6-1

190 R-Jr.

St. Louis, Mo. / Riverview Gardens

57 Omari Palmer

OL

6-3

315

R-Sr. Coram, N.Y. / Longwood

12 Andrew Armstrong LB

6-2

217

Fr.

Youngstown, Ohio / Cardinal Mooney

58 Donnie Foster

OL

6-3

326 R-So. Savannah, Ga. / IMG Academy (Fla.)

13 Devin Butler

WR/RB 6-3

195

Fr.

District Heights, Md. / Frederick Douglass

58 Hernz Laguerre

DL

6-1

237

13 Evan Foster

DB

6-0

208 Fr.

West Bloomfield, Mich./West Bloomfield

59 Aaron Roberts

OL

6-4

280 R-So. Chicago, Ill. / De La Salle Institute

15 Rex Culpepper

QB

6-3

228 Fr.

Tampa, Fla. / Plant

60 Cody Conway

OL

6-6

287 So.

Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield North

15 Anthony Lombardi

DB

6-3

212

Fr.

Stamford, Conn. / Trinity Catholic

61 Samuel Clausman

OL

6-3

317

Pembroke Pines, Fla. /

16 Carl Jones

DB

6-1

177

Fr.

Twinsburg, Ohio / St. Edward

16 Zack Mahoney

QB

6-2

206 Jr.

LaGrange Park, Ill. / Lyons Township

63 Evan Adams

OL

6-6

333 R-Fr.

Norwalk, Conn. / Norwalk

17 Jamal Custis

WR

6-5

224 Jr.

Philadelphia, Pa. / Neumann-Goretti

64 Colin Byrne

OL

6-5

312

Coral Springs, Fla. / St. Thomas Aquinas

18 Scoop Bradshaw

WR

5-11

163

Fr.

Tampa, Fla. / Plant

65 Jamar McGloster

OL

6-7

328 R-Jr.

19 Daivon Ellison

DB

5-8

177

So.

Linden, N.J. / Don Bosco Prep

67 Michael Lasker

OL

6-5

312

R-Sr. Corona, Calif. / Santiago

19 Tyler Gilfus

WR

6-1

192

Fr.

Cape Vincent, N.Y. / Thousand Islands

68 Airon Servais

OL

6-6

291

Fr.

20 Cordell Hudson

DB

5-11

183

R-So. Largo, Fla. / Largo

72 Steven Clark

DL

6-2

287 So.

Arab, Ala. / Brindlee Mountain

21 Moe Neal

RB

5-11

169

Fr.

Gastonia, N.C. / Forestview

72 Andrejas Duerig

OL

6-3

309 R-Fr.

Lowell, Ind. / Mount Carmel

21 Chauncey Scissum DB

6-2

201

R-Jr.

West Henrietta, N.Y. / Rush-Henrietta

73 Jon Burton

OL

6-8

310

Spotsylvania, Va. / Courtland

22 Jordan Fredericks

RB

5-10 209 So.

Inwood, N.Y. / Lawrence

75 Sam Heckel

OL

6-4

279 Fr.

23 Jonathan Thomas

LB

6-1

209 Jr.

Lawrenceville, Ga. / Collins Hill

76 Keaton Darney

OL

6-3

276

24 Shyheim Cullen

LB

6-0

210

R-Fr.

Lowell, Mass. / Lowell

77 Mike Clark

OL

6-8

304 Fr.

25 Kielan Whitner

DB

6-0

197

So.

Lawrenceville, Ga. / Mountain View

78 Jason Emerich

OL

6-3

293 R-Sr. New Ringgold, Pa. / Blue Mountain

26 Tyrone Perkins

WR

6-0

203 So.

Glen Head, N.Y. / Friends Academy

79 Anthony Giudice

DL

6-1

273 So.

27 Devon Clarke

DB

6-2

186

Fr.

Kissimmee, Fla. / Osceola

27 George Morris

RB

6-0

182

R-Sr. Lawrenceville, Ga. / Central Gwinnett

80 K.K. Hahn

WR

5-10 178

Fr.

Bethesda, Md. / IMG Academy (Fla.)

28 Christopher Fredrick DB

5-11

189

R-Fr.

Conley, Ga. / Cedar Grove

81 Kenterius Womack

WR

6-1

181

So.

Luverne, Ala. / Luverne

29 Otto Zaccardo

RB

5-10 186

Fr.

Subury, Mass. / Lincoln-Sudbury

82 Alvin Cornelius

WR

6-1

190 R-Sr. Staten Island, N.Y. / Tottenville

30 Parris Bennett

LB

6-0

208 Jr.

Detroit, Mich. / Univ. of Detroit Jesuit

83 Sean Avant

WR

5-10 210

R-Jr.

Miramar, Fla. / Miramar

31 Kyle Kleinberg

TE

6-0

215

So.

Armonk, N.Y. / Don Bosco Prep (N.J.)

85 Josh Black

DL

6-3

257

Fr.

Loves Park, Ill. / Harlem

32 Winston Lee

DB

5-10 193

So.

Hudson, N.Y. / Hudson

86 Adly Enoicy

WR

6-5

220 R-So. Delray Beach, Fla. / Atlantic Community

33 Marqez Hodge

LB

5-11

219

Sr.

Miami, Fla. / Miami Central

87 Kendall Moore

TE

6-5

245 Sr.

Chicago, Ill. / Neal F. Simeon

34 Jacob Hill

WR

5-6

169

So.

Detroit, Mich. / Detroit County Day

88 Clay Austin

WR

5-9

164

Montclair, N.J. / Seton Hall Prep

35 Sterling Hofrichter

P

5-9

183

R-Fr.

Valrico, Fla. / Armwood

89 Josh Parris

TE

6-4

244 R-Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga. / Stephenson

35 Kyle Strickland

DB

6-0

176

Fr.

Roswell, Ga. / Roswell

6-3

250 Sr.

36 Tim Walton

37 Ted Taylor

YR.

So.

HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL

West Haven, Conn. / West Haven

R-So. Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill West

LB

6-2

224 Fr.

Detroit, Mich. / Cass Technical

LB

6-1

217

Riviera Beach, Fla. / Dwyer / Dodge City

Sr.

Community College

NO. & NAME

POSITION

HT.

WT.

219

YR.

Jr.

264 Fr.

HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL

Lauderhill, Fla. / Dillard

46 Adam Dulka LB 5-9 226 Fr. Brecksville, Ohio / Huntington Valley University School

R-Jr.

R-So. Ellenwood, Ga. / Arabia Mountain

Sr.

R-Fr.

R-Fr.

R-Jr.

Spring Valley, N.Y. / Spring Valley

St. Thomas Aquinas

Hillside, N.J. / Saint Anthony

Green Bay, Wis. / Ashwaubenon

Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha West

R-So. Los Angeles, Calif. / Loyola

90 Cameron MacPherson TE

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. / Ft. Lauderdale

Jr.

Exton, Pa. / Downingtown East

Monroe Township, N.J. / Avon Old Farms (Conn.)

Syracuse, N.Y. / Christian Brothers

Academy 91 Trey Dunkelberger

TE

6-5

235 Jr.

Shillington, Pa. / Governor Mifflin

92 Nolan Cooney

P/K

6-3

187

East Greenwich, R.I. / East Greenwich

Fr.

38 Alex Grossman

K

5-9

155

Sr.

Woodbury, N.Y. / Syosset

93 De’Jon Wilson

DL

6-3

250 R-Sr. Washington, D.C. / H.D. Woodson

39 Troy Henderson

LB

5-11

216

R-Fr.

Cleveland, Ohio / St. Edward

95 Chris Slayton

DL

6-4

296 R-So. University Park, Ill. / Crete Monee

40 Zack Lesko

LB

6-0

215

Fr.

Solon, Ohio / Solon

98 McKinley Williams

DL

6-4

253 Fr.

Miramar, Fla. / Dillard

41 Eric Anthony

LB

6-0

202 Sr.

Baldwinsville, N.Y. / C.W. Baker

99 Jake Pickard DL

6-5

256 R-Fr.

Short Hills, N.J. / Millburn

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oct. 14-15, 2016 15