An up-and-down start to the season continued on Saturday for Syracuse (2-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast), as the Orange took down Western Michigan, 52-33, in convincing fashion.

SU’s point total was more than it scored in its first three games combined, as Tommy DeVito’s break-out performance led Syracuse to 545 yards of total offense. DeVito was responsible for the longest run of the season for the Orange (60 yards) as well as their longest passing play, a 59-yard completion to Trishton Jackson.

Syracuse needed just two quarters to equal its previous season-high in points and fought off a second-half comeback attempt by the Broncos, who cut SU’s lead to five before the Orange pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Here’s whose stock is up or down after Syracuse’s highest-scoring game of the season thus far.

Kevin Camelo | Co-Digital Editor

Thanks in part to DeVito’s career-best day on the ground, SU racked up 258 rushing yards, a season-high. After a shaky start to the season in which Syracuse ran for just 277 yards in three games, Moe Neal exploded for a season-high 123 yards and two touchdowns against the Broncos. With the Orange’s newfound willingness to turn DeVito loose to run, the added dimension to the offense opened up lanes for Neal, who dominated the SU timeshare in the backfield, 26 carries to Abdul Adams’ nine. The senior running back was able to consistently break off solid gains, while the bulk of DeVito’s yards came on a 60-yard run in the first quarter and his 36-yard touchdown scamper in the second.

Kevin Camelo | Co-Digital Editor

One of the key pieces in Syracuse’s goal line and special teams units the past two years, Hackett broke out against Western Michigan with a career-high six catches, 48 yards and two touchdowns. The junior tight end was instrumental for DeVito’s success through the air, serving as his quarterback’s safety valve when the outside receivers were covered. Hackett caught the first and last passing touchdowns of the day, the former coming on a shovel pass in the first quarter and the latter a nine-yard lob pass to the back of the end zone in the fourth. Significantly involving a tight end in the passing game was another revelation for the SU offense, which developed a few new tendencies versus the Broncos.

Kevin Camelo | Co-Digital Editor

The last time Jones was named in stock watch was after week 2 when the true freshman struggled in Syracuse’s 63-20 loss to Maryland. While all SU’s defense had issues across the board against the Terrapins, Jones specifically struggled, missing a handful of tackles and taking poor routes on running plays. In an expanded role versus Western Michigan, Jones looked significantly more confident and capable. He made his first career start as Syracuse’s third linebacker in a 4-3 set, which it decided to use on Saturday due to injuries to its defensive backs, and finished tied for second on the team with six tackles, including a team-high five solo tackles.

Kevin Camelo | Co-Digital Editor

The injury bug bit Syracuse’s defensive backfield last week, as All-American safety Andre Cisco and starting cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu both missed Saturday’s game due to lower-body injuries. Antwan Cordy and Scoop Bradshaw started in their places and played well, as Cordy totaled six tackles and a forced fumble while Bradshaw made three stops and recorded a pass break-up. But then Cordy went down too, on a collision with Western Michigan running back LeVante Bellamy. Both players left the game and never returned, the lone negative for Cordy in a game in which he was one of Syracuse’s best players. While his replacement, Eric Coley, recorded an interception, SU likely doesn’t want to test its defensive back depth any more than it already is.

Kevin Camelo | Co-Digital Editor

While Syracuse impressed in many of the aspects of its victory, it was uncharacteristically undisciplined in terms of mistakes versus the Broncos. They began in the first quarter, when center Airon Servais was called for penalties on back-to-back plays, which pushed SU back to its own 5-yard line. Later on in the fourth quarter, while Western Michigan was attempting to mount a comeback, Syracuse was called for defensive pass interference on consecutive plays as well. The Orange avoided any negative repercussions from the fouls on Saturday, but can’t risk committing 13 penalties in the future.

Published on September 24, 2019 at 2:04 am

Contact Eric: erblack@syr.edu | @esblack34