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Western Michigan falls 55-42 to Syracuse in home opener

Posted at 11:36 PM, Aug 31, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-31 23:54:28-04

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Senior quarterback Eric Dungey rushed for 200 yards and passed for 184, coming back off the bench for Syracuse in a 55-42 win at Western Michigan on Friday in the season opener.

Dungey looked like he was going to get the second half off after the Orange built a 34-7 lead, but he returned after Western Michigan made it a six-point game in the third quarter.

Dungey lobbied coach Dino Babers to get back in and put the game away upon his return.

"I love to win and want to do everything I can to win," Dungey said. "Once I could see that it was starting to get close, I was in Babers' ears. He was probably getting annoyed with me, but I really wanted to get back in there."

Dungey connected with Jamal Custis six times for 168 yards and two touchdowns, all career highs for the senior wide receiver.

Syracuse scored the first 17 points, and converted its first six possessions for points before the Broncos mounted a comeback, scoring 21 unanswered to start the second half until Dungey's return.

Western Michigan quarterback Jon Wassink was 19-of-36 passing for 379 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Wassink threw two touchdowns to D'Wayne Eskridge, including an 84-yard score to make it 34-21 with 7:32 left in the third quarter. Eskridge caught eight passes for 248 yards.

LeVante Bellamy had a 64-yard run to make it 34-28 before Dungey's return put Syracuse back on track.

"I'm not going to say the word frustrated, but I was disappointed," Babers said. "But the fortitude that they turned around with and how they took over the fourth quarter when we put our four fingers up and it's all about us and our conditioning. For them to go out and take that game back, take any hope that those guys had at winning the game in the fourth quarter. I'm really proud how they battled back."