#CuseCamp17: Scrimmage II Recap

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange football team held its second and final scrimmage of the preseason Saturday morning on Schwartzwalder Field. The scrimmage was broken into two halves. When the first offense and first defense were on the field, the format was thud (no tackling to the ground). All other units were live.

Syracuse ran 135 plays in 85 minutes. Head coach Dino Babers was particularly satisfied with the production of the defense, which intercepted six passes.

"The defense absolutely dominated the scrimmage," said Babers. "It was the most defensive-oriented scrimmage that I have ever been a part of."

Three of the interceptions were returned for touchdowns, as Carl Jones, Jordan Martin and Ifeatu Melifonwu each registered a pick-six. Interceptions by Kielan Whitner in the end zone and Parris Bennett at the goal line thwarted potential scoring drives. Freshman safety Kevin Nusdeo made the last INT.

Offensively, quarterbacks Clayton Welch and Zack Mahoney each threw touchdown passes. Welch's was a 2-yard strike to Russell Thompson-Bishop, while Mahoney's went to Steve Ishmael. Otto Zaccardo ran the ball in from 20 yards out for the Orange's first rushing touchdown, while Allen Stritzinger capped the day's scoring with an 8-yard dash into the end zone.

In addition to the six turnovers, the defense also notched four second-half sacks, including quarterback takedowns by Jonathan Thomas, Daivon Ellison and Kingsley Jonathan.

The Orange have less than a week left of camp. The team will practice four more times between Sunday and Thursday before officially starting preparation for the Sept. 1 season opener versus Central Connecticut State.

Season tickets, partial plans and group tickets for Orange football are on sale now online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B). Season tickets start at $125.

Single-game tickets are also on sale now. Tickets start at $25 for non-conference games against Central Connecticut State, Middle Tennessee and Central Michigan, $30 for ACC matchups with Wake Forest and Boston College, $35 for the Oct. 7 Pittsburgh game on Orange Central Weekend, and $45 for the Clemson game on Oct. 13.

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Players Mentioned

Parris Bennett

Justin Ellis

Daivon Ellison

Steve Ishmael

Kingsley Jonathan

Carl Jones

Zack Mahoney

Jordan Martin

Ifeatu Melifonwu

Kevin Nusdeo

Allen Stritzinger

Jonathan Thomas

Russell Thompson-Bishop

Clayton Welch

Kielan Whitner

McKinley Williams

Otto Zaccardo

Syracuse University Athletics