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Football

Fast reaction: Syracuse loses heartbreaker at Virginia in triple overtime

Jessica Sheldon | Staff Photographer

Eric Dungey leapt over a defender for a touchdown in the second quarter, but Syracuse couldn't out-punch Virginia in a 44-38 triple-overtime loss on Saturday.

By Sam Blum

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. —  Syracuse (3-3, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) fell to Virginia (2-4, 1-1), 44-38 in triple overtime on Saturday afternoon in front of 39,223 at Scott Stadium. Here are three thoughts from the game as SU lost its first conference contest in two tries this season. 

Not the charm

After sticking with Virginia in the first two overtime periods, Syracuse couldn’t keep up in the third. Eric Dungey was sacked twice as the ball was moved back to the 31-yard line on fourth down. Then Cole Murphy came on for the long field goal. He had missed a 48-yard attempt badly early in the game. This time, his 48-yard attempt in triple overtime sailed just to the left.

Virginia hit the ground on the ensuing possession, and Jordan Ellis scored the game-winning touchdown on a 3-yard run. 

Air Dungey



Earlier in the week, SU head coach Scott Shafer said his quarterback, Dungey, needed to do a better job of getting rid of the ball to lessen the risk of injury. With time ticking down in the first half, he defied those wishes with a 26-yard touchdown run. He found a ton of space up the middle before elevating over UVA safety Quin Blanding and falling into the end zone.

Earlier in the half, he had been called for a fumble on a play where his arm may have made a forward motion. UVA’s Wilfred Wahee picked up the ball and waltzed in to score while the Syracuse offense stood dumbfounded.

On the afternoon, though, Dungey was productive. He threw for 150 yards on 16-of-22 passing. He ran for 85 more yards on 18 carries, which was the team lead on Saturday. In overtime, he was the victim of another targeting penalty as he hit Ervin Philips for an overtime touchdown. 

Fenced up

Just seven days after Syracuse put up its biggest defensive dud of the season, the Orange responded with what appeared to be one of its best. 

But with 6:52 left in the fourth quarter, Virginia got the ball back down by three and the SU defense couldn’t make it a complete performance. The drive took 19 plays and every second left on the clock, and UVA was able to tie the game on a field goal as time expired. In overtime, the Orange couldn’t stop the Cavaliers from scoring three straight touchdowns and ultimately winning the game. 





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