Terrel Hunt yearned to get back onto the field to redeem himself, since last time out he got ejected from Syracuse's 27-26 double-overtime win over Villanova. After having to wait two full weeks, Hunt finally gets his opportunity on Saturday as the Orange (1-0) takes on the Central Michigan Chippewas (2-0) in Mount Pleasant.
“I’m itching a lot to get out there,” Hunt said Wednesday.
Hunt punched a Villanova linebacker in the second quarter in the season opener, a move that almost cost Syracuse an embarrassing home loss. He’s promised that it won’t happen again and apologized to teammates for letting trash talk lead to a lapse in judgment.
WAER COVERAGE OF SU V. CENTRAL MICHIGAN STARTS WITH COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF AT 11:30 am, GAME TIME 12:00 noon. DOUBLE OVERTIME TAKES YOUR CALLS AFTER GAME.
“There were a lot of things said. It’s football,” he said. “Things people don’t see, but it happens. Me being the quarterback and the leader of the team, I got to keep my cool, let it go and just move forward.”
And the Orange may not be able to afford another ejection. Although both teams come into the game with undefeated records, they’ve done so in different manners. Whereas Syracuse needed a fake field-goal to squeak by the Wildcats, the veteran Chippewas stomped Purdue on the road last week. Before that, Central Michigan beat Chattanooga, 20-16, by shutting out the Mocs in the fourth quarter.
“Coach (Dan) Enos has done a great job of getting these kids ready to play this year,” SU head coach Scott Shafer said. “They play a very physical brand of football.”
Shafer emphasized physical defense during Syracuse’s bye week. The Orange allowed 389 yards to Villanova, who used long drives to dominate the time of possession battle.
“I just want to see a better job tackling in space, gang tackling on defense and just being focused and locked into one play at a time,” Shafer said.
If Syracuse wins, it would be only the second 2-0 start for the team since 2000. A loss would put the Orange back at .500 and grow concern about the team’s chances to return to a bowl game.
What to Look For
- Early momentum-One positive from Week One was Syracuse’s touchdown drive on its first possession. The Orange need to start well to neutralize Central Michigan’s home advantage, safety Durell Eskridge said this week. “We got to come out and hit them in the mouth early, especially playing against their crowd,” he said. “They can get in your ear and take you out of the game.”
- Syracuse’s rushing attack vs. Central Michigan’s run defense – The ground game was SU’s bread and butter in 2013. But aside from Prince-Tyson Gulley’s long touchdown carry, the Orange couldn’t establish a consistent run game against the Wildcats. Now, Gulley takes on a Chippewa defense that allowed fewer than four yards per carry in the first games of the season.
- More Brisly Estime-During the second half of 2013, Estime’s speed and elusiveness made him one of Syracuse’s top playmakers on offense. That talent didn’t show against Villanova as the sophomore was limited to just one catch for one yard. Offensive coordinator George McDonald said he expects a much bigger performance from Estime against the Chippewas. “I hope that he can go out there and get into a flow, get going and give us some explosiveness on the perimeter,” McDonald said.
Opponent Watch
Central Michigan enters the game with a 2-0 record after wins against Chattanooga and Purdue. Syracuse’s front four will be tested early and often by the Chippewas. Thomas Rawls, a transfer from Michigan, rushed for at least 100 yards in both games this season. The Chippewas have attempted more than twice as many runs (89) as passes (42). SU defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough predicted a similar pattern on Saturday.
“That’s what they do,” Bullough said. “They’re not going to change. That’s what they tried to do against Tennessee Chattanooga and that’s what they did against Purdue so I can’t imagine they’re going to try to change against us.”
Sophomore quarterback Cooper Rush has played well, albeit in a limited role. He’s only thrown one interception this year, after being turnover prone in 2013. But Rush’s best weapon – Titus Davis – has been hampered by a knee injury. Davis didn’t play against Purdue, but returned to practice this week and is listed as “day to day”. When healthy, he’s one of the top weapons in the MAC.
On defense, the Chippewas return almost all of their starters including Justin Cherrocci, a senior linebacker and team captain. He anchors a 4-2-5 defense, which has been stout against the run.
“Their defense runs around and they play good, sound defense and they’re good tacklers in space,” Shafer said. “I’ve been real impressed with what they’ve done on that side of the ball.”
News and Nuggets
- Offensive linemen Omari Palmer and Nick Robinson are active. Neither played against Villanova.
- Syracuse will debut its new all-white uniforms, Shafer announced during his weekly radio show at Destiny USA.
- As an assistant coach in the MAC, Shafer went 7-2 against Central Michigan.
- It’s only the second matchup between the Orange and the Chippewas. Troy Nunes led Syracuse to a 47-7 rout in the only previous meeting, which was back in 1999.
- Central Michigan leads the nation in interceptions (six).
