CLEMSON, S.C. — As Eric Dungey plowed ahead on a zone read and ran through a hole, Clemson linebacker Ben Boulware wrapped up the quarterback’s legs. Dungey turned his head, staring at Tigers linebacker Dorian O’Daniel, who lowered his helmet and hit Dungey in the shoulder. O’Daniel’s helmet slid underneath the quarterback’s chin, knocking the signal-caller to the ground.

Dungey lay there, moving his hands to his head and trying to lift his head off the ground.

Surviving means to remain alive. By definition, after Saturday’s 54-0 loss, O’Daniel brought Syracuse’s season dangerously close to dying.

Babers said No. 3 Clemson (9-0, 6-0 ACC) might be the best team in the nation on Wednesday, bracing for the Tigers’ full force. It didn’t stop them from blasting Syracuse (4-5, 2-3) just as hard Saturday. Dungey came back onto the field in a blue long-sleeve shirt, without pads and seemingly less woozy than when he left it. Babers said after the game the medical staff told him Dungey could not come back in the game. For the first time as a head coach, an opponent shut Babers out.

If Dungey sits out long-term, losing him will hurt Syracuse much more than losing the game. Now, the Orange has just three games — against North Carolina State, Florida State and at Pittsburgh — to get two wins and secure bowl eligibility for the first time since 2013.

“That’s the optimistic view of it,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said of still having three games left to make a bowl game. “That’s kind of how we sleep at night.”

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From start to finish, Clemson brought an NFL-like feel to the game. Two military planes flew over Memorial Stadium, not even audible above crowd cheers. A person dressed as a tiger and two others parachuted onto the field. In the game, Clemson outgained Syracuse by 288 yards, committed seven fewer penalties and racked up 13 more first downs. CU overwhelmed Syracuse with its pageantry and its play.

After Syracuse’s initial first down, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney immediately called a timeout, as if to signal the Orange just getting a first down was too much to allow. Swinney then challenged an Amba Etta-Tawo first-down catch. Although the referees’ call stood, the period of time settled Clemson.

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Immediately after, Steve Ishmael pushed a Clemson defender in the back on a Moe Neal run, slamming Syracuse back for a first and 20. Then Neal and the offense relayed an audible too late and snapped the ball after the play clock ticked down. A false start penalty bumped SU back another 5 yards. Syracuse attempted to convert a fourth down, but turned the ball over on downs.

On the first play of Syracuse’s next drive, Dungey dropped back, stared down Etta-Tawo and threw an interception to Clemson defensive back Ryan Carter, who had disguised his coverage and dropped in front of the SU wide receiver. Quarterback Deshaun Watson ran in for a score on Clemson’s possession, opening up a 10-0 lead.

On the second play of Syracuse’s next drive, O’Daniel crushed Dungey. In the span of seven offensive plays from when Clemson called that timeout, SU’s game, and potentially its season, crumbled.

About a minute ticked from the time Dungey lay on the ground until two trainers aided him in trekking to the sideline. He needed at least one person to walk him back to the locker room and sometimes two. Etta-Tawo, running back Dontae Strickland and guard Aaron Roberts kneeled next to their teammate, hoping their quarterback and season would be OK.

“I looked him in the eye,” Etta-Tawo said. “He looked back at me and said he’s alright, so I know he’ll be back.”

Forty-four points later, smiling fans jumped on the field. Babers walked off it, a blank expression covering his face. Ervin Philips looked up and dropped his head. Kendall Coleman clenched his helmet, squinted and bit his lip.

“You just don’t ever want a team to beat you twice,” Babers said after the game.

Clemson just might.

Published on November 5, 2016 at 9:45 pm

Contact Chris: [email protected] | @ChrisLibonati