As Steve Angeli walked down the tunnel toward the entrance to the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday, he took it all in for a moment. This was going to be the Syracuse quarterback’s first game since Sept. 20
“But as soon as the ball hits the foot, I’m ready to go,” said Angeli, a fifth-year quarterback for the Orange. “I got a job to do. I got to play for my guys, and last year’s behind me.”
It took just the Orange’s second drive of the game against New Hampshire for Angeli to throw his first touchdown of the season when he connected with Umari Hatcher for a 19 yard score.
It was one of three touchdown passes from Angeli, who went 20-29 for 263 yards as the Orange dominated the Wildcats to a 66-3 victory. This was Syracuse’s first win since Sept. 20 as well.
“There was no pressure. Just coming out doing my job,” Angeli said. “I was just more excited to go out there with my guys again, get out there, and play for Coach Fran [Brown], play for the ’S,’ and really just doing my job.”
The running attack helped take control of the game in the first half as freshman Shavane Johnson Jr. ran for 100 yards and three touchdowns in the first two quarters. Sophomore Tylik Hill also chipped in with 68 rushing yards and one score in the first half as Syracuse led 41-0 at the break.
“Just the next man up. I got the opportunity from all the older people going down, so once I got up there I just had to step up, and that was the thing I had to do,” Johnson said.
But there was a scary moment in the second quarter when Angeli got rolled up on after completing a pass to Noah Meyers. He was down on the ground for a few seconds as trainers and head coach Fran Brown attended to him.
However, soon after, Angeli got up and ran off the field. He missed one play before returning to the game and handing the ball off to Johnson for a 15-yard touchdown run. Later in the quarter, Angeli tossed a 27-yard touchdown pass to David Clement.
“Just got a little banged up and just tested it out,” Angeli said. “I thought we were actually gonna race to the sidelines, so that’s why I started running like that. But I guess not, or I won, whatever you want to look at it as.”
“He got up and walked. I was like, ‘All right, race me.’ So that’s why he ended up trying to race me and won,” Brown said. “He’s a competitor so once he was able to do that, I was good; I was thankful.”
After a safety in the third quarter made it 43-0 for Syracuse, Angeli threw another touchdown pass to Hatcher again in the fourth quarter to make it 50-3.
The Syracuse defense held New Hampshire to just 159 yards of offense. The Orange registered five sacks, two fumble recoveries, and an interception from Rashard Perry.
“It’s just good to be able to do a good job up front. The trenches are where games are won on offense and defense. And so I’m happy those guys got to do it. Those guys worked really hard to get to where they are.”
The early-season homestand continues for the Orange when they host Cal next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at JMA Wireless Dome.