Shafer: "We Can't Wait to Get Back in the Dome"

After dominant victory at Central Michigan following a bye week, Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome this weekend sitting at 2-0.

The Orange welcome Maryland (2-1) to the Loud House this weekend, for a 12:30 p.m. kickoff.

"We can't wait to get back in there and right some of those wrongs from game one," said head coach Scott Shafer.

'Cuse is coming off a 40-3 victory in which they controlled every aspect of the game, led by Terrel Hunt who became the first Syracuse quarterback to rush for three touchdowns since Donovan McNabb did so against Miami in 1998.

"We were disappointed coming out of Villanova and we were looking forward to playing the type of football that we expect of ourselves and the kids met the challenge," said head coach Scott Shafer. "The assistant coaches did a great job of preparing them and it was great to watch the film and see that type of football that we all expect here at Syracuse."

To keep the momentum going, the Orange will have to top a Maryland team that is coming off 40-37 loss to West Virginia, where the Mountaineers kicked a field goal on the final play of the game.

"They have a couple of really top-tier wide receivers, a quarterback that if he gets hot can really make some plays and they're going to run the football," Shafer said. "They've been effective running the power with one back, a little different look than we had last week. They'll walk you out and spread it out to try to run the power.

"They also do a good job of starting on the week-side zone play and cutting the ball back to the strong side so we have to do a good job with our run fits and do a good job with our coverage drops in our down the field passing game."

Syracuse Slated for Prime Time

The 2014 Syracuse football game against Notre Dame on Saturday, September 27 will kick off at 8:00 pm from MetLife Stadium. The New York College Classic will be televised on ABC.
 
Tickets for the 'Syracuse Section' for the 2014 New York's College Classic vs. Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium are on sale now, starting at $80, via www.NYCollegeClassic.com, phone (888-DOMETIX, Option Zero), or in person at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

ACC Digital Network: Little's Journey Back to Syracuse

Orange Scores 40-Unanswered to Roll Past Central Michigan

After allowing a Central Michigan field goal on the opening possession of the game, Syracuse scored 40 unanswered points to roll to a 40-3 win and improve to 2-0 on Saturday. The Chippewas (2-1) were held to just 217 yards of total offense, with 66 of that coming on the opening drive of the game while the Orange offense, led by quarterback Terrel Hunt's 267 yards and four touchdowns, moved its way to 464 total yards on the day.

CuseTV: Highlights | Coach Shafer Press Conference | Hunt Interview | Philips & Crume Interviews
Links: Final Stats | Postgame Notes | Infographic | Photo Gallery

Hunt was sharp with his arm and his legs, going 20-of-30 passing for 175 yards and a touchdown with 92 yards on 13 carries and three rushing scores.It marks the first that a Syracuse quarterback rushed for three touchdowns since Donovan McNabb on Senior Day vs. Miami in 1998 and the first time any Orange back did it since Delone Carter vs. Akron in 2009.

Adonis Ameen-Moore led all rushers with 106 yards, which was good for a career-high. Freshman Ervin Philips got the first nine carries of his career, rushing for 55 yards on nine carries, 50 of which came on one drive that was capped off by Hunt's first rushing touchdown.

After a Ryan Norton field goal tied the game at three at the start of the second quarter, it was the SU defense that found the back of the end zone first for the Orange.

Defensive tackle and Michigan native Eric Crume strip sacked Chippewas quarterback Cooper Rush and the ball wound up in the hands of Marqez Hodge who took it 36 yards for the score.

After forcing another Central Michigan punt, Hunt led the Orange on a 13 play drive and capped it off with a four-yard touchdown pass – his first of the season – to Brisly Estimewith 1:52 to go in the half.

The score sent Syracuse into the locker room with a 17-3 lead.

The defense got the Orange on the board again at the start of the second half, when after a Riley Dixon punt pinned the Chips inside of the five, Cameron Lynch pressured Rush in the end zone forcing an intentional grounding call that resulted in a safety.

It was the first safety for the Orange since the 2012 Pinstripe Bowl victory over West Virginia.

Hunt put the game out of reach late in the third quarter, when he rushed for a pair of touchdowns just 33 seconds apart. After punching it in from one-yard out with 3:43 remaining in the third, Rodney Williams recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to give the Orange the ball back. Hunt took full advantage, running it in from three yards and his second rushing touchdown.

The quarterback put the exclamation point on the win with 59 seconds left in the game for his career-high third rushing touchdown of the day.

In the passing game, Hunt spread the ball around with 11 different student-athletes catching a pass on the day.

Ashton Broyld led the team in receptions for the second game in a row, catching four balls for 42 yards.

Lynch once again led all 'Cuse tacklers, coming up with eight tackles. The senior captain also made three sacks on the day.

Syracuse also didn't commit a turnover for the second-straight game.

The Orange will now return home and welcome Maryland (2-1) to the Carrier Dome next Saturday at 12:30 p.m.