Syracuse breaks out of rut, defeats Georgia Tech 37-20

Updated Sep. 26, 2020 6:06 p.m. ET

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SYRACUSE, NY (AP) — Tommy DeVito threw for two scores, Sean Tucker ran for two others, and Syracuse broke out of its offensive doldrums to defeat Georgia Tech 37-20 Saturday for its first win of the season.

The game, which was delayed more than 30 minutes while three Syracuse players were retested for COVID-19, was the first in the refurbished Carrier Dome. Renovations included a new roof, lighting, air conditioning and a big scoreboard.

The Orange (1-2, 1-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) scored 17 points off Georgia Tech (1-2, 1-1 ACC) turnovers. Syracuse's defense, playing without pre-season All America safety Andre Cisco who was injured in a fluke pre-game collision with a teammate, recorded five takeaways. The game marked the second straight game in which the Yellow Jackets committed five turnovers.

DeVito was 13 of 24 for 192 yards. Tucker, a freshman, had 111 yards on 22 carries and touchdown runs of 38 and four yards. Nykiem Johnson had four receptions for 84 yards, including a 43-yard touchdown, while Taj Harris had three catches for 64 yards, including a 46-yard pass play.

Tucker was Syracuse's first 100-yard rusher since quarterback Eric Dungey in 2018 and the first freshman to gain 100 yards in five years.

“He really did his job,” Syracuse coach Dino Babers said. “He really went after it. We like guys who are hit at the 20 but not tackled until the 25 or 26.”

Jeff Sims completed 13 of 28 passes for 174 yards and one touchdown for the Yellow Jackets but had four interceptions at the hands of the opportunistic defense.

“Big focus all week was on not turning the ball over. Obviously, we didn't do that,” said Georgia Tech coach Geoff Collins. "Finishing in the red zone, finishing drives, obviously didn't do that. That's on me. I've go to do a better job getting guys ready. We have to protect the football."

Jahmyr Gibbs, a freshman playing in just his second game for Tech, had 105 yards, the first 100-yard game of his brief career. Dontae Smith had a career-high 75 yards rushing.

Syracuse had scored 16 points, one touchdown and averaged 59 yards rushing in its first two games. In the first quarter alone, the Orange scored 17 points, two touchdowns and Tucker, who had just 23 yards on four carries in two games, registered 73 yards on the ground.

“It was great to see the offense come out and score some points and then the plays being made on special teams with the block (on a Georgia Tech field goal attempt), I thought it was a good team win,” said Babers, who acknowledged things were starting to “mount up” after two losses to open the season. “Do we need to get better? Yes. Are there areas we need to improve in? Yes. But going three games and getting our first win and now having the opportunity to heal up with a bye. Our opponents are all real, there are no gimmes. This bye is coming at a good time.”

The Orange raced to a 17-0 lead, but Georgia Tech narrowed the gap to 23-20 on a 3-yard run by Jamious Griffin with 1:20 left in the third quarter.

Syracuse pulled away on DeVito's strike to Johnson on a quick three-play drive and a defensive score by defensive back Trill Williams, who ran 43 yards after taking a lateral from Ja'Had Carter following his interception of a Sims pass.

“We fight our butts off to get us into a tight ballgame. We fight our way back, we let ourselves get in a hole, then we fight our way back...and then we let go of the rope and we give up the big return, a big pass play, a big shot play. We cannot do that,” Collins said.

“Five defensive takeaways? Extremely impressive,” said Babers, who was even more impressed with the renovated Dome.

“It's super, super impressive. Nothing but a big WOW from all of our players.”

Added Williams: “I thought I was on a recruiting trip again.”

THE TAKEAWAY:

Georgia Tech: Sims is loaded with talent but will have to clean up his turnovers if the Yellow Jackets are to show sustained improvement. The freshman now has eight interceptions in the young season.

Syracuse: The Orange may have found its answer at running back in Tucker. The freshman showed great balance on his first score and proved difficult to bring down playing behind an offensive line that has failed to open many holes. Entering the game, Syracuse averaged 2.8 yards a play and was last in the ACC in points scored, total offense, rushing yards, passing yards and sacks allowed. The Orange averaged almost 5.5 yards per play Saturday on 357 yards of offense and allowed only one sack.

UP NEXT:

Georgia Tech has a week off before hosting Louisville Oct. 9

The Orange also has a bye week before continuing its three-game home stand against Duke on Oct. 10.

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More AP college football: https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and http:www.twitter.com/AP_Top25

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Taj Harris

Dontae Smith

Tommy DeVito

Jam Griffin

Andre Cisco

Syracuse Orange

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets