CLEMSON, S.C. — For the seventh time in eight games this year, a Syracuse linebacker led the team in tackles.

During Syracuse’s (3-5, 1-3 Atlantic Coast) 16-6 shortcoming at No. 21 Clemson (6-2, 5-1) on Saturday night, the Orange’s defense shut down the Tigers’ attack throughout the first 45 minutes and its linebackers were the core of the defensive effort.

Out of the Orange’s seven tackles for loss, linebackers logged three of them. Cameron Lynch led the way with 10 tackles and fellow senior Dyshawn Davis added nine while forcing and recovering a fumble.

Both players also surpassed 200 career tackles with SU.

“We did OK. On that pass, I wish I could take that one back,” Lynch said, referring to his assignment, Clemson tight end Stanton Seckinger, scoring a decisive fourth-quarter touchdown. “Other than that, go back to the drawing board, focus on what we have to focus on and just be sharp in our preparation.”

The linebackers made their presence known early.

On Clemson’s first drive, Davis tripped up wide receiver Artavis Scott on a third-down screen short of the first-down marker. Lynch applied pressure on Clemson’s Cole Stoudt leading to an ill-advised deep ball that SU’s Brandon Reddish picked off.

After both sides exchanged field goals, the Tigers faced a third-and-1 at the Orange’s 17. From under center, Stoudt turned to give C.J. Davidson a handoff, but Lynch burst through the middle and took down the tailback for a loss of 3.

“When we needed a stop, we stopped them in some crucial situations and kept giving ourselves a chance to win,” SU head coach Scott Shafer said.

About three minutes later, Davis jumped and pointed to CU’s end zone with the ball in his right hand, having just ripped it cleanly from Stoudt as the quarterback was brought to the ground by a group of defenders. The turnover set the Orange up for a field goal as time ran out in the first half.

Though the Tigers put the game out of reach with Seckinger’s score, the SU linebackers were consistently as active in the second half.

Lynch’s 10 tackles were split up evenly, five in each half. Later in the game, the Orange mixed in freshman linebacker Zaire Franklin in some big spots.

He made three tackles, one for a loss, while spelling sophomore Marqez Hodge, SU’s starting middle linebacker who chipped in five tackles.

Syracuse’s linebacking group is relatively top-heavy in age, but Franklin’s experience in Death Valley rounded out the linebackers’ effort and weaving the youth of the unit into the picture will be essential to keeping the Orange healthy the rest of the season.

“He did very well. I’m proud of him,” Lynch said of Franklin. “They’re going to be a good squad next year and this year they’re going to help us out and win some of these games. Fresh legs.”

Published on October 27, 2014 at 12:10 am

Contact Phil: pmdabbra@syr.edu | @PhilDAbb