Orange take down Western Michigan in shootout

Orange take down Western Michigan in shootout

Quarterback Tommy DeVito threw for 287 passing yards and 4 touchdowns to move to 2-2.
Published: September 22, 2019
Syracuse University’s tight end Aaron Hackett (89), pushes through Western Michigan University’s defense for a touchdown. Syracuse University beat Western Michigan University with a score of 52-33.
Syracuse tight end Aaron Hackett (89) pushes through Western Michigan University’s defense for a touchdown in the Orange's 52-33 win.

In a game full of giveaways from both sides, Syracuse was able to maintain strong offensive attacks backed by DeVito, Neal, and Jackson. 

On the second play from scrimmage, Tommy DeVito rushed for 60 yards up the middle to give the offense a much-needed kick following a 41-6 bruising at the hands of Trevor Lawrence and the Tigers. 

Western Michigan had a relatively good quarter offensively in terms of overall production, but when it mattered most they weren’t able to capitalize and in turn, Syracuse was able to gain a commanding 14-0 lead going into the second quarter. 

With 5:30 left in the first quarter, DeVito tossed a shovel pass to Aaron Hackett, not only giving the Orange six on the board but also injecting some much-needed life and energy into the Dome. 

The Orange picked up right where they left off at the beginning of the second quarter, as DeVito burst to the outside for a 36-yard rushing touchdown. 

DeVito ran for over a hundred yards on the day. Although the stat sheet recorded only 85 rushing yards for the day, still a productive day on the ground for him. 

The Broncos’ first score came off a 47-yard run from Bellamy, to cap off a four-play, 91-yard drive that only lasted 1:16 seconds. Bellamy’s run was a microcosm of similar play to come from the Broncos, patient gains, finishing with big home run plays from Bellamy and Wassink. 

 

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Senior defensive back Christopher Frederick (3) breaks up a pass down the sideline.

The next time the Broncos got the ball, they scored again. They recovered a fumble to give them great field position at the 27. With a missed extra point, a two-yard catch from Giovanni Ricci made up the last of their points for the first half. The Broncos’ fumble recovery that started the drive once again showed signs of the game’s overall themes, big plays, and costly turnovers. 

Andre Szmyt rounded out the first half with a 24-yard field goal, giving the orange a 24-13 lead going into the break. 

Syracuse defense came out and showed its strength again by forcing a punt following a six-play, 39-yard drive by the Broncos.

Syracuse took it from their own 17, 83 yards in just 5 plays and 1:13. The drive was capped off by a 49-yard bomb from DeVito to Trishton Jackson.

The third quarter marked the second straight quarter where the Broncos outscored the orange, however as the final score indicated, the first and fourth scoreless quarters proved to be pivotal in handing the Broncos their second loss of the year. 

On Syracuse’s first drive of the fourth quarter, DeVito connects with Hackett again, rolling out of the pocket for a nine-yard pass, marking his fourth passing TD on the day and Hackett’s second score. 

Following another touchdown from Moe Neal, the Orange was able to wrap up the contest with lockdown defense, reminiscent of the first shut-out quarter. 

Syracuse and Dino Babers will now prepare to play Holy Cross (1-2). Syracuse now moves to 2-2, and sit at the bottom of ACC Atlantic at 0-1 in the conference.