SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse Football dominated its season opener Saturday night in the Dome, beating Louisville in all three phases in a convincing 31-7 win.
“This team was really, really locked in, to give themselves the best opportunity to do something that a lot of people didn’t think we could do,” seventh-year Head Coach Dino Babers said.
Here are seven things for Orange fans to consider looking ahead — one for each point Louisville scored.
1. This is a major stepping stone for the Orange
Let’s not downplay the significance of this victory, despite the fact that it came in Week 1.
This is the Louisville team that defeated Syracuse 41-3 in Kentucky just 10 months ago. It is the same school that beat ‘Cuse each of the last three meetings, and seven of the last eight.
Not only that, but Syracuse had not beaten an ACC opponent to open a season since 2011, when the Orange beat Wake Forest.
In a season in which ‘Cuse has to play four current Top 25 teams in consecutive weeks, then travel to another (Wake on Nov. 19) and play a Big Ten opponent in non-conference play (Purdue at home Sept. 17), this was a critical game. The path to postseason eligibility became much more smooth with this Week 1 victory.
2. The biggest plays of the night came on defense
Garrett Williams’ leaping interception in the end zone. Redshirt freshman linebacker Derek McDonald’s first career interception on the following Louisville possession. Two forced fumbles in the backfield, one recovered.
Those three turnovers all came on consecutive possessions in the second half and created short fields for the offense, allowing the Orange to put the game away.
“They really played a complete game,” Babers said.
The opportunistic, playmaking defense shut down Cardinals quarterback Malik Cunningham, a sixth-year player who was 14th in the country in total offense last season and has given Syracuse fits in the past three years.
“The emphasis was to just start out fast and keep our foot on the gas,” linebacker and captain Mikel Jones said.
3. Garrett Shrader answered every question
The first game of offensive coordinator Robert Anae’s tenure was a roaring success. The scheme illuminated the talents of All-American running back Sean Tucker, who had 183 total yards and was #PL34SED with his performance.
Anae and Tucker deserve credit, but quarterback Garrett Shrader’s line was impressive: 18-of-25 passing for 237 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, along with 16 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
“I thought Anae did a fantastic job with the offense,” Babers said. “I thought the offense did a fantastic job.”
Shrader overcame dropped passes (more on that below), made something out of nothing on at least two occasions with his legs, and delivered crisp passes all night.
In 2021, Louisville stacked the box against Syracuse, daring Shrader to throw. In 2022, Shrader and the Orange had the final laugh.
“There’s no doubt you can follow [Shrader],” Babers said. “He shows you the way.”
4. The defensive line and receiving corps answered some — not all — questions
The bad news for these two units: No receiver caught more than four passes (though Tucker caught six). Three costly pass drops were a factor on three of the five drives on which ‘Cuse did not score points. At times, the front three on defense allowed Cunningham to convert in third-and-long situations, as several different players filled the defensive tackle role.
The good news: Each had some great moments, notably Steve Linton’s forced fumble and subsequent recovery and Devaughn Cooper’s catches over the middle of the field. Additionally, tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught a touchdown.
Both units have an opportunity to make more noise next week against UConn, a game in which the Huskies will be without their starting quarterback. Syracuse opened as three-touchdown favorites for the Week 2 matchup in Storrs, Conn.
5. The crowd made a difference
The beginning of the JMA Wireless Dome era was a raucous one. The announced crowd of 37,110 fans were deafening on Louisville third downs and after each big play the Orange made.
Babers credited the crowd in his opening statement at the postgame press conference.
“The noise level was through the roof,” Babers said. “And there’s no doubt that it affected a really, really special athlete in Malik Cunningham.”
A false start penalty on the first Cardinals drive sent the ‘Cuse fans into a frenzy, and the noise continued throughout the night.
“They did a great job coming out and causing [Louisville] to have penalties and making it tough on their offense,” Shrader said.
6. The penalties were a glaring problem
Three Syracuse players went down with injuries during the game: Linebacker Stefon Thompson, fullback Chris Elmore and Tucker. Tucker returned to have a great second half, but Thompson and Elmore were on crutches in the second half.
The injuries were concerning, but the biggest concern in an otherwise sparkling win was the amount of laundry on the field. The final tally against the Orange was 18 penalties for 107 yards, a majority of those whistles coming before the snap against the offense.
“It’s the first game of the year, and even with those penalties, we have a tool now,” Babers said. “We can go back and work on those.”
7. Special teams was spotless
Redshirt senior placekicker Andre Szmyt was 5-for-5 in the kicking game, freshman punter Max Von Marburg flipped the field when necessary and the kickoff coverage was near-perfect.
Babers raved about the kickoff coverage under new special teams coordinator Bob Ligashesky.
“That’s big-time special teams,” Babers said. “That’s just the start.”
The chart below tells the field position story — Louisville’s best starting field position on its nine drives was its own 30 yard line.
Up next for the Orange is a date with the UConn Huskies on the road on Saturday, Sept. 10, with kickoff scheduled for 7 p.m.