SYRACUSE, N.Y. – For awhile, Central Michigan stood toe-to-toe and matched Syracuse blow-for-blow.
For awhile.
The Orange rolled up 579 yards in total offense and scored 31 straight points in running away from the Chippewas, 41-17, on Saturday before 33,004 at the Carrier Dome.
The loss was . . .
Quarterback Shane Morris threw two touchdown passes, the second of which put the Chippewas in front, 17-10, midway through the second quarter.
But it was all Syracuse from there. Orange quarterback Eric Dungey threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 105. Syracuse rushed for 300 yards, 242 of which came in the second half.
Syracuse’s offense produced 14 plays that covered 15 yards or more.
Morris finished with 279 passing yards, but much of CMU’s success came early, before the Orange defense slammed the door. A Chippewa offense that produced 590 yards one week earlier in a win at Kansas, finished with 382, and only 164 of that came in the second half.
Morris’ TD passes covered 56 yards (to Cameron Cole) and 17 yards (to Jonathan Ward). It was Cole’s first collegiate TD reception. Michael Armstrong added a 30-yard field goal for the Chippewas.