SYRACUSE, N.Y. (cuse.com) – Syracuse posted 23 second-half points but came up just short against No. 25 LSU, 35-26, in front of the fourth largest crowd (96,044) in Orange program history on Saturday in Death Valley. Wide receiver Steve Ishmael recorded his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game with 123 total yards on 11 receptions. He is just one game behind Amba Etta-Tawo for the most consecutive 100+ receiving yards games in program history.
In the Orange's first trip to Baton Rouge, the offense ran 82 total plays for 384 yards and generated 24 first downs. Junior quarterback Eric Dungey completed 32 of his 53 passes for 265 yards in the air while compiling 24 yards on the ground, notching both a passing and rushing touchdown.
HOW IT WAS DECIDED
LSU took the lead just six seconds into the game as Andraez Williams picked off Dungey, returning the ball 28 yards to the 1-yard line. Derrius Guice rushed into the end zone for the Tigers to give LSU the early 7-0 lead. Syracuse got on the board with a field goal by Cole Murphy, his 47th career field goal, tying him for fifth in program history for made field goals.
Wide receiver Devin C. Butler sparked the Orange offense in the third quarter with a 30-yard pass to Ervin Philips for Syracuse's first touchdown of the night. A safety and a 14-yard rushing touchdown by Dungey kept the Orange in the game but the Tiger offense remained dominant, racking up 414 total yards on offense.
The Orange would not go quietly as an interception by defensive back Juwan Dowels started a 13-play, 80-yard drive down the field, capped by a 22-yard touchdown pass from Dungey to Ishmael, pulling Syracuse to within two with 5:40 left in the game. Despite the effort, Syracuse could not complete the rally as LSU responded with a touchdown of its own late in the fourth quarter to close out the game.
UP NEXT
Syracuse hits the road for the second consecutive week when the team heads to Raleigh, N.C. to take on North Carolina State in an afternoon battle on Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 12:20 p.m. ET and the game will be televised live on ACC Network.