Dungey dangerous
Injured Syracuse QB threat for Eagles ‘D’
Syracuse senior quarterback Eric Dungey is guaranteed a place among the great passers in program history even if he doesn’t play in Saturday’s regular-season finale against Boston College at Alumni Stadium.
BC NOTEBOOK
Dungey suffered an upperbody injury in the first quarter and did not return to Saturday’s 36-3 loss to No. 3 Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium. The No. 19 Orange are 8-3 and 5-2 in the ACC, while the Eagles fell to 7-4 and 4-3 with a devastating 22-21 loss at Florida State. Syracuse coach Dino Babers was “unsure” of Dungey’s status for Saturday’s game between bowl-bound programs. BC coach Steve
Addazio talked extensively about the Syracuse gunslinger during his weekly press briefing yesterday.
“The quarterback is elite, maybe the best quarterback in the conference, and I’m not saying something new,” Addazio said. “You could argue, but I’m saying (Dungey) has great throwing capability, great running capability and he’s got the intangibles.
“Eric’s unique. I’ve seen him too long, too much, and the guy has got ‘it.’”
Dungey is injury-prone, the only thing that’s prevented him from breaking all of Syracuse’s significant passing records. Dungey owns or shares 16 school records and is second in career completions (744) and yards (8,675) behind Ryan Nassib, who finished with 791 completions and 9,190 yards. Dungey is third in career touchdowns (54) behind Donovan McNabb
(77) and Nassib (70).
Dungey has completed 184-of-307 passes for 2,203 yards with 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. He is second on the team in rushing with 698 yards and 12 touchdowns.
“I certainly understand why we call him dual-threat because he is a good runner,” Addazio said. “He’s an NFL thrower.”
Zach attack
BC senior defensive end
Zach Allen was named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week for the second time this season and third in his career.
Allen did it all against the Seminoles on defense and special teams. He recorded six tackles and menaced quarterback Deondre Francois with a sack and a quarterback hurry.
Allen registered his second blocked kick of the season on a 45-yard field goal attempt by Ricky Aguayo.
Allen is in the top 10 in the ACC in tackles for losses (14.5), sacks (6.5) and fumble recoveries (two). Allen recently was named a semifinalist for the Bednarik Award and a quarterfinalist for the Lott Impact Trophy.
Dillon improves
Addazio thought tailback
AJ Dillon showed fewer ill effects from his ongoing ankle issue against the Seminoles. Dillon carried the ball 37 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns, but he left the game limping late in the fourth quarter.
“It’s been incremental, but clearly there has been improvement each week,” Addazio said. “You could see more of those runs just starting to percolate now, some of those extra-effort AJ runs that he is feeling a little better.”
Dillon suffered the initial injury in the second half against Temple on Sept. 29 and missed consecutive starts against North Carlina State and Louisville. Dillon, the ACC preseason Player of the Year, has 1,052 yards on 215 carries for a 4.9 average with 10 touchdowns.