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Football

Long, Welsh earn weekly ACC honors for performances in Syracuse win over Wake Forest

Syracuse (3-4, 1-2 Atlantic Coast) quarterback AJ Long was named the ACC’s rookie of the week and defensive end Robert Welsh earned defensive lineman of the week honors, the conference announced Monday.

In the Orange’s 30-7 pounding of Wake Forest on Saturday, Long became the first true freshman in Syracuse history to win his starting debut. He completed 22-of-32 passes for 171 yards and threw neither a touchdown nor interception. Long accounted for SU’s only offensive touchdown, scrambling in from 4 yards out to put SU ahead, 10-7.

“It’s an awesome feeling knowing that you come out in your first career start on the road,” Long said after the game, “and you get a win against a great, great Wake Forest team.”

During the second quarter, Welsh dropped into zone coverage. SU linebacker Dyshawn Davis flew in from the blind side to drop the hammer on WFU quarterback John Wolford — who didn’t return after the play — and he threw the ball right to Welsh before taking the hit from Davis.

Welsh took off along the left sideline and into the end zone, giving the Orange a 17-7 lead. The senior just missed a pick-six a year ago, getting tackled on an interception return at the 1-yard line in the season opener against Penn State.



The defensive end, as part of SU’s jumbo package on offense, threw a key block on Long’s touchdown and also logged three unassisted tackles, two of which went for losses, to lead all of SU’s defensive linemen.

Pittsburgh earned the most recognition of all ACC teams this week, with three players earning weekly honors. Florida State and North Carolina, like Syracuse, had two players garner honors.





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