Tonight has confirmed that the end of the season can’t come soon enough for Syracuse. The Orange have dropped five straight games and have yet to win a contest that quarterback Steve Angeli hasn’t started.
QB Rickie Collins went 0-4 in his four opportunities following Steve Angeli’s season-ending torn Achilles in the upset win at Clemson. Today, it was Joseph Filardi who got the call from head coach Fran Brown to make his college football debut.
Filardi, a native of Dix Hills, NY, is a walk-on player for the football team, but a former high school All-American and standout lacrosse athlete for the upcoming Syracuse lacrosse team in the spring.
It was a tough start through the air for Filardi. The freshman didn’t complete a single pass until halfway through the second quarter. Still, the Orange managed to maintain a lead because of an earlier scoop and score forced by Devin Grant and taken across the goal line by Anwar Sparrow.
The defense was the driving force of the first half and allowed Syracuse to control a 10-6 advantage at halftime.
That SU lead quickly dissipated in the second half.
UNC scored 14 points in the third quarter courtesy of Tar Heels running back Demon June. The freshman found the endzone on a 72-yard reception from quarterback Gio Lopez. June also scored on a five-yard rushing touchdown to make it a 20-10 North Carolina lead.
The Tar Heels continued to silence a fairly empty Dome crowd in the fourth on a 21-yard throw and catch from Lopez to receiver Jordan Shipp.
Overall, SU’s offense had plenty of time to get rolling, but Filardi and company could never find rhythm. The defense looked good early on, but then fizzled out.
The woes continue for Syracuse heading into next week’s road game at Miami.
