Recap: Florida State 27, Syracuse 24

Saturday, November 4

Tallahassee, FL

12:20 pm

Syracuse University

4-5 , 2-3

Florida State

3-5 , 3-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Florida State

11/4/2017 3:08:00 PM | Football

Box Score Cuse TV: Highlights Cuse TV: Dino Babers Press Conference Cuse TV: Ervin Philips Press Conference Photo Gallery Postgame Notes Quotes

Philips breaks Syracuse career catch record

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ervin Philips became Syracuse's career receptions leader, but a dramatic Orange rally fell short in a 27-24 loss to Florida State (4-5, 2-3 ACC) at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4. The Orange slipped to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the ACC.

Syracuse had a chance to tie the game on the final play, but Cole Murphy's 43-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked by Florida State's Derwin James.

Junior quarterback Eric Dungey accounted for all three Orange touchdowns, throwing for two and rushing for a third. He finished the game 23-of-43 passing for 278 yards. In addition, he posted his second straight 100-yard rushing performance, tallying a career-high 109 yards on 22 carries.

HOW IT WAS DECIDED
Florida State ultimately scored the game-winning points late in the fourth quarter. The Seminoles maneuvered into Syracuse territory and, after taking 2:45 off the clock, Ricky Aguayo made his 38-yard attempt with 6:48 to play to make it 27-17 Seminoles.

Following Aguayo's kick, Dungey guided the Orange to one final score. He took the team on a 75-yard march in 14 plays, capping the series with a 3-yard touchdown run at the 2:55 mark. Murphy's extra point pulled Syracuse within three, 27-24.

Syracuse attempted an onside kick, but Florida State recovered at its own 47 with 2:54 remaining in regulation. The Syracuse defense forced the Seminoles to punt for the ninth time on the afternoon and the Orange offense took possession at its own 18 with 1:03 to go. The Orange advanced to the Florida State 25 and with six seconds left, Murphy tying attempt that would have forced overtime was tipped at the line of scrimmage.

BABERS' TAKE
"It was a really, really good game. You could tell that both teams were extremely competitive. Both teams were ready for this game," Orange head coach Dino Babers said. "To play a game like that and not win is unfortunate, but I am really proud about the way the guys played."

FIRST-HALF FIREWORKS
The Seminoles received touchdowns runs of 54 and 63 yards from Cam Akers and a 51-yard touchdown pass from James Blackman to Nyqwan Murray in the first half.

The Orange answered those scores in the second quarter with two Dungey touchdown passes. The Lake Oswego, Ore. native teamed with Jamal Custis on a 47-yard scoring play, and with Steve Ishmael from 34 yards away. The Custis touchdown came on fourth-and-2, one of three times Babers elected to go for it on fourth down.

Syracuse had an opportunity to possibly tie the game at the end of the first half when Shyheim Cullen recovered a muffed punt by Florida State's D.J. Mathews at the Seminoles 11-yard line. A fourth-down pass by Dungey was incomplete and the teams entered the intermission with Florida State ahead, 21-14.

OF NOTE
Syracuse outgained Florida State on offense, 463-343. The Orange ran a season-high 95 plays in the contest.

Philips took over the top spot on the Syracuse career catch list in the second half when he hauled in his seventh pass of the afternoon. Alec Lemon (2009-12) owned the previous record of 201 before Philips surpassed him. Philips finished the game with 12 catches for 107 yards and now has 207 career receptions. With 73 catches this year, Philips also moved into fourth on the Orange single-season ledger.

Ishmael climbed up to third on the school's single-season catch list. His 12 grabs for 143 yards upped his 2017 reception total 78. Amba Etta-Tawo holds the SU season receptions record, snagging 94 passes in 2016.

The duo of Philips and Ishmael combined for 24 of the Orange's 31 receptions against the Seminoles and 250 of Syracuse's 314 receiving yards.

Dungey advanced into third on the team's career completions list with 559, passing Donovan McNabb (548, 1995-98). Dungey also took over fourth place on Syracuse's season completions chart (224). His 377 pass attempts this fall rank third in Syracuse single-season history. With 2,495 passing yards in 2017, Dungey claimed the fifth spot on that Orange ledger.

Syracuse's defense continued its pattern of excelling on third down, holding the Seminoles to 1-of-13 in that situation. Only one 2017 Orange opponent (LSU) has successfully converted more than three third-down tries.

Logan Tyler was an unsung hero for Florida State. He punted nine times for 388 yards, good for an average of 43.1 yards per kick. He put three of his punts inside the 20 and hit three that traveled at least 50 yards.

Akers carried the ball 22 times for 199 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Seminoles.

Dungey was injured on the fifth play of the contest. He was able to return by the first drive of the second quarter. Zack Mahoney played in his absence and completed 7-of-12 passes for 36 yards.

UP NEXT
Syracuse returns to the Carrier Dome for the first time since its Oct. 13 victory over defending national champion Clemson to play Wake Forest on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Next Saturday is Military Appreciation Day. Active service members and veterans are eligible to receive free tickets by signing up at Cuse.com/military prior to Monday, Nov. 6. Tickets for military personnel are $10 the day of the game.

For the general public, tickets to watch the Orange and Demon Deacons start at $30. They are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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