CLEMSON, S.C. — Syracuse (4-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast) folded late against then-No. 3 Clemson (5-0, 2-0) on Saturday, losing 27-23, despite leading for most of the game.

The Orange gave the Tigers a scare behind a solid pass rush and strong wide receiver play but were ultimately hamstrung by their inability to stop the run.

Here are this week’s risers and fallers.

 Stock up

 Kendall Coleman

Coleman was Syracuse’s most dominant defensive player Saturday, and that was reflected in his final stat line. Coleman recorded two sacks for 19 yards, notched seven total tackles and disrupted the Tigers’ offense.

At the time, Coleman’s second sack seemed game-altering. Syracuse punted on its previous drive. Clemson trailed 23-20 with less than nine minutes to play. On third and seven from his own 40, Tigers backup quarterback Chase Brice dropped back.

Coleman burst off the left edge, beating left tackle Mitch Hyatt. At first, Coleman barely had a hold of Brice, and it seemed like the quarterback might slip the tackle. Instead, Coleman wrestled Brice down for a nine-yard loss.

Both Coleman and Alton Robinson have been playing at a high level recently, as SU’s defensive line is hitting its stride.

Turnovers

 Syracuse had three more takeaways on Saturday, recovering two fumbles and snagging an interception.

The first fumble came on Clemson’s second offensive play, as Tigers quarterback Trevor Lawrence tried to pull the ball away from running back Travis Etienne late on a read option. The ball hit the turf, and Alton Robinson scooped it up.

After Lawrence left the game, backup quarterback Chase Brice badly overthrew a receiver. Trill Williams made his first collegiate interception on the play, toeing the sideline.

But the most important turnover was Amari Rodgers’ muffed punt at his own 10-yard line. Jamal Custis recovered, and Syracuse punched in its second touchdown.

Through five games, Syracuse has forced 12 turnovers, eight more than last season.

Wide receivers

 From Taj Harris’ 51-yard bomb to Jamal Custis snatching the ball from between two defenders, Syracuse’s receivers came to play Saturday.

Five receivers caught passes for the Orange. Each of those players caught at least two, and Custis and Devin Butler paced the group with five catches apiece and 73 and 45 yards, respectively.

Harris hauled in the catch of the game, though. Syracuse needed five yards to convert a third down from its own 35. Instead of taking something underneath, Dungey spotted Harris slipping open behind his man.

Dungey lofted it up for Harris, who stuck out his hands, bobbled the ball, and secured the 51-yard catch that set up Syracuse’s first touchdown.

Stock down

 Health

 After the game, senior defensive back Antwan Cordy and senior long snapper Matt Keller were seen leaving the locker room in with their arms in slings. Keller’s was on his right arm.

It’s unclear when Cordy got hurt or what his injury is. Regardless, if the senior is out for any significant time, it will be a massive blow to the Orange’s secondary. Cordy has slotted in as a nickelback through five games this season as part of the Orange’s new 4-2-5 base defense.

Keller appeared to have gotten hurt on Syracuse’s final special teams play, a punt. Television cameras showed the senior long snapper visibly upset on the sideline. His injury is also currently unknown.

Behind Keller on the depth chart is long snapper Aaron Bolinsky. Likely candidates to fill in for Cordy include Williams and Ifeatu Melifonwu, two freshmen who received notable playing time Saturday.

 Linebackers

 Etienne ran wild on Syracuse on Saturday, mostly due to lapses from the linebackers.

On Etienne’s first touchdown, a 26-yard run to the right side, linebacker Ryan Guthrie hesitated and fell behind the play. Forced to take a bad angle, he came up with air as he dove at Etienne’s ankles.

When Etienne slid into the end zone to put the Tigers up with less than a minute left, Kielan Whitner and Guthrie were caught up with the defensive line, failing to set an edge.

All game, Etienne and Clemson’s rushers consistently got through to the second level of Syracuse’s defense because a linebacker was out of position.

Running backs

 Syracuse’s running backs combined to carry the ball 11 times for 28 yards, a paltry 2.5 yards a carry.

The early game plan was to attack the edges, where SU identified open spaces in Clemson’s defense. But SU went about that by utilizing Sean Riley on sweeps. He finished with two carries for 24 yards.

Instead, the running backs took on the unenviable task of challenging the vaunted Tigers’ defensive line straight on. It didn’t go well.

Syracuse entered the game averaging more than 250 rushing yards per game. The Orange netted 61 on Saturday. After the game, a reporter asked Dino Babers if he was happy with the way his team ran the football.

“No,” he said.

Published on September 30, 2018 at 11:03 pm

Contact Andrew: aegraham@syr.edu | @A_E_Graham