Friday the 13th: The Luck of the Orange

As the Defending National Champions entered the Carrier Dome on Friday October 13, the nation predicted a 23.5 point spread or in other terms, expected a Clemson Tigers blowout win over the Orange. But, that didn't happen at all.

Syracuse struck first as Quarterback Eric Dungey found one of his favorite receivers Dontae Strickland with a 23 yard pass on their first drive.

Clemson Quarterback Kelly Bryant returned from an ankle injury he suffered last week against Wake Forest. Bryant stuck mainly to handing the ball off rather than passing as Clemson answered back to tie the game at 7 on a 37 yard rush by Tavien Feaster. Bryant left the game late in the first half with a concussion after getting sacked and slammed to the ground by Syracuse lineman Chris Slayton.

Dungey then found receiver Ervin Phillips wide open for a 66 yard pass to put the Orange back up 14-7. Clemson answered back on Defense with a 63 yard fumble recovery, but the Orange scored a late field goal in the 2nd to take a 17-14 lead at the half.

The Syracuse Orange offense did not lose their momentum in the second half as Dungey threw his third touchdown pass of the night to Steve Ishmael. Clemson would answer back again with six minutes left in the third quarter as their run game continued as 2nd-string Quarterback Zerrick Cooper handed the ball off to a speedy Travis Etienne and he ran 52 yards to tie the game at 24.

The game would remain tied at 24 until Syracuse's Cole Murphy would kick a 30 yard field goal with 9:41 left in the game to put the Orange up by three.

Clemson was close to the Syracuse 40 yard line with six minutes left in the game on a 3rd and 6, but they couldn't get the first down as the Syracuse Orange defense allowed just two third down completions of a total 11. The Tigers then tried to make something happen on 4th down, but the pass fell incomplete and the Orange took over.

With 1:37 left to go, Dungey and the Orange offense at Clemson's 26 yard line and Dungey decides to take a knee instead of kick a field goal or go for a touchdown.

The Orange pull off the stunning 27-24 upset over Clemson, giving them their first loss of the season. Dungey finished 20 for 32 for 278 yards and threw 3 touchdowns and rushed 21 carries for 61 yards.

The 4-3 Orange travel to Miami next Saturday to take on the 11th ranked Miami Hurricanes where they look to make another upset!