NFL
By Rick O’Donnell
After a challenging game for the Syracuse Orange on Saturday, they’ll take on a familiar foe in the Colgate Raiders Friday night at the JMA Wireless Dome. Did the post game sprints send a clear enough message to the Orange about their lack of accountability or will we see more of the same?
Rivalry Renewed?
The Orange have taken on the Raiders 68 times but only lead the series 32-31-5 which is crazy when Syracuse has won the past 17 games with their last loss in 1950, 75 years ago. The first matchup goes all the way back to 1891, a game in which Colgate won 22-16. Plenty of history with Syracuse winning as large as 71-0 with their smallest margin of victory being 7-3, according to Cuse.com.
Gang’s All Here?
In regards to the previously mentioned sprints, Coach Fran Brown claimed he was holding the team accountable for not “swarming to the football”. That’s going to be a big focus on the Orange on Friday night. In their two games this season, Colgate’s leading rusher has failed to put up more than sixty yards rushing. Cuurently quarterback Zach Osbourne leads the team with 80 yards on the ground. The Orange can’t afford to be the first team he goes off against as they’ve struggled against running QBs in the Fran Brown era. Syracuse needs to meet at the football every time Colgate snaps it.
Short But Sweet
No one wants to get beat deep, however, plenty of Syracuse’s struggles on defense were short passes in the open field vs UConn. Colgate looks to be a pass-first team and adjustments will need to be made. On the defensive side of the football, the Orange came alive in the second half, but they’ll have to be ready for all 4 quarters against Colgate. Despite their two losses, the Raiders have lost by 7 or less points in both games, one of which included a 39 point showing. No team on their schedule should be taken lightly, especially one that hasn’t won in as long as the Raiders haven’t. Syracuse can’t allow them to open up the passing game with any tempo in short yardage situations.
There is plenty of history between these two teams. Syracuse needs a strong showing out of their young but talented team and Colgate will be hungry to end years of suffering at the hands of the Orange. Game is set for kickoff at 7 pm EST Friday night.
