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Syracuse, NY (cuse.com) - Quarterback Eric Dungey threw for two touchdowns and ran for one score and Syracuse (3-3, 1-1) secured a Homecoming Weekend triumph against Pittsbugh (2-4, 0-2) in the Carrier Dome.
Dungey engineered an Orange rally from a 10-3, first-half deficit. He connected with Devin C. Butler on a 32-yard touchdown pass with 34 seconds left in the second period and then helped Syracuse go ahead for good with a 10-yard scamper to paydirt in the third quarter. Dungey then teamed with Steve Ishmael on a 35-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter on what proved to be the game-winning points.
Pittsburgh had one last opportunity after stopping Syracuse on the Panther five with 52 seconds left. A sack by Ryan Guthrie all but ended the chance.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
A telling factor in the game was Syracuse's performance on both sides of the ball on third down. The Orange defense kept Pittsburgh from converting a third-down until midway through the fourth quarter, a streak that had reached 0-for-10.
Syracuse's offense was only 1-for-9 on third down in the first half but converted its first on the touchdown drive that ended the first half and then was successful on four tries on its touchdown-scoring series in the third quarter.
The Orange ended the game 8-of-20 on third down. The Panthers were 3-of-13.
OF NOTE:
Dungey was 33-of-49 for 365 yards and two touchdown passes. He ran 12 times for 48 yards.
Pittsburgh's successful two-point attempt in the fourth quarter was the first against Syracuse this season. Jordan Whitehead ran it in for the points and the Panthers narrowed the Orange margin to 27-24 with 7:15 remaining.
Dungey's 10-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was the 19th ground score of his career. It tied the school's mark for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, equaling Bill Hurley's total established from 1975-79.
Steve Ishmael had a touchdown reception called back on Syracuse's first possession when he was called for offensive pass interference. He more than made up for the penalty in the fourth quarter when he overcame a defensive pass interference flag to record a 35-yard scoring catch.
Alex Kessman's 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter for Pittsburgh represented a Carrier-Dome record. It was the longest kick of Kessman's Panther tenure.
Syracuse's Cole Murphy was successful on both of his field-goal tries, splitting the uprights from 26 and 38 yards. The kicks gave him 49 career field goals and put him in a third-place tie with Nate Trout (1996-99) and Ross Krautman (2010-2013).
Panther quarterback Max Browne was forced to leave the game with an injury. He was replaced by Ben DiNucci, who guided Pittsburgh on a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Brown was 15-of-22 for 161 yards before departing.
Syracuse linebacker Parris Bennett had a game-best 14 total tackles, including nine solo stops.
Pittsburgh had won 11 of the last 12 meetings with Syracuse.
DEFENDING CHAMPS IN THE DOME
The Orange are home again next week when defending national champion Clemson comes to the Dome. Game time is 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13. Pittsburgh will host NC State on October 14th at 12:00 p.m.