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Syracuse Football Looks to Start 3-0 For the First Time Since 1991

@WAERSports

There's only one week before Syracuse's primetime matchup against Notre Dame, but the Orange coaches and players are insisting that their attention is only on Maryland.

"We’re just focused on Maryland," SU head coach Scott Shafer said.  "We’re locked into what Maryland does.  Daily, the message is to focus on ourselves and then focus on the opponent at hand." 

The Orange (2-0) returns home to the Carrier Dome on Saturday to face Maryland (2-1) at 12:30 p.m. EST.  Syracuse has a chance to start 3-0 for the first time since 1991.  That would lead to a high-profile showdown in MetLife Stadium between two undefeated teams.  But to get there, SU has to first take care of the Terps, who have averaged almost 38 points per game.

"If we come back 3-0, then we can prepare for Notre Dame, start thinking about what they can do," senior linebacker Cam Lynch said.  "But right now, we’re focused in on the Maryland offense and defense."

WAER'S COVERAGE OF SYRACUSE - MARYLAND STARTS WITH COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF AT 12:00 AND KICKOFF AT 12:30. DOUBLE-OVERTIME FOLLOWS END-OF-GAME.

Lynch and the Orange can't afford to overlook another opponent.  SU needed double overtime to defeat the Villanova Wildcats, an underdog FCS team, in the season opener.  

Syracuse followed that up with a dominating 40-3 road win against Central Michigan last Saturday.  Syracuse's pass rush was able to get consistent pressure on CMU quarterback Cooper Rush with a series of blitzes.  Rush was sacked five times (once in the end zone) and saw his pocket collapse around him throughout the game.  Lynch, the ACC's leading tackler, had a game-high eight tackles and helped limit the Chippewas to 1-of-10 on third down conversions.

"It made it so much easier when they stopped them and gave us the ball because it gave us so many opportunities to score," Terrel Hunt said.  "When we’re both on the same page, it’s great. We’re hard to stop."

The junior quarterback was sharp under center and showed that his passing arsenal extends beyond the bubble screen. But his best weapon may have been his speed, as he rushed for 92 yards and three touchdowns.  Hunt has a great chance to give Syracuse a sixth straight win in its series with Maryland.  The Terps allowed up more than 500 passing yards last week. Hunt's offensive line, meanwhile, is one of only four in the FBS that hasn't allowed a sack all season. 

What To Look For

  • The Distribution of Carries-Prince-Tyson Gulley is the starting running back, but it was a pair of reserves, Adonis Ameem-Moore and Erv Phillips, who impressed last week.  Ameem-Moore led the way with a career-high 106 rushing yards, but Phillips' elusiveness in the second half may have propelled him into a bigger role.  "I’ve coached at a lot of places and he could have played at anywhere that I’ve been,” Shafer said.
  • Containing the Quarterback-Syracuse has struggled, at times, against quarterbacks who can scramble.  The Orange was burned by Villanova's John Robertson and face another dual-threat quarterback in C.J. Brown.  Although the verdict may still be out on Brown's passing ability, there's no question that he's one of the most dangerous rushing quarterbacks in the country.  "He’s no Tajh Boyd, but he’s still a very good quarterback who can run outside the pocket and throw the ball," Lynch said.
  • Syracuse's secondary-In last season's matchup, the Orange avoided seeing Terrapin wide receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long. But now Diggs and Long are healthy.  They are Maryland's top two leaders in receivng yards and could pose a challenge to Syracuse's secondary that hasn't really put to the test yet this season.

News and Nuggets

  • Josh Parris will make his season debut.  Syracuse has gotten very little production out of the tight end position this season without Parris, who had knee surgery on Aug. 20. 
  • Ryan Norton missed two field goals last week, but he’s not in immediate danger of losing his starting job.  “He’s doing a great job,” Shafer said.  “We’re working some other kids too, but right now it’s Ryan’s job.”
  • Maryland head coach Randy Edsall played quarterback at Syracuse and worked on the coaching staff for several years.
  • SU Athletics will give away free tickets to all students, according to a report by the Syracuse Post-Standard.