Tempers flare between NC State, Syracuse

It didn’t take long for Syracuse to develop some animosity toward N.C. State.

The Orange joined the ACC three years ago but already, according to senior center Rob Trudo, there’s no love lost between the Atlantic Division schools.

“We don’t like N.C. State too much, as a team, personally,” Trudo said after Syracuse’s 42-29 loss to the Wolfpack on Saturday, according to Syracuse.com.

Saturday’s game featured some extracurricular activity after the whistle on both sides with nine total personal fouls or unsportsmanlike penalties and three ejections.

“Unfortunate there were so many things going on during the game,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said. “We tried to do everything we could from being that way. That’s not what the game is supposed to be.”

N.C. State defensive tackle Monty Nelson was ejected after defensive end Darian Roseboro returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown at 5:20 in the third quarter.

Nelson and Trudo got tangled up during Roseboro’s return. Nelson has to sit out the first half of the North Carolina game on Saturday as part of his punishment.

Syracuse had two players ejected, starting receivers Brisly Estime and Steve Ishmael. Coach Scott Shafer picked up an unsportsmanlike penalty after Ishmael was ejected at 2:37 in the fourth quarter.

“Shame on me for losing my cool at the end of the game,” Shafer said. “I was frustrated just like our kids were.”

Frustrations spiraled out of control in the fourth quarter for Syracuse, who have lost eight straight.

Estime was ejected after an exchange with N.C. State cornerback Juston Burris near the Syracuse sideline at 11:15 in the fourth quarter.

Ishmael caught a 3-yard touchdown, after jostling with N.C. State cornerback Mike Stevens in the end zone, and then was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct – his second of the game – and ejected.

Shafer argued the call and got a flag of his own. It led to the odd sight of Syracuse attempting an onsides kick from its own 10-yard line.

N.C. State recovered the kick and then ran three plays, with a 15-yard run by Nyheim Hines bringing the ball down to Syracuse’s 5-yard line before Doeren elected to take a knee and run out the game clock.

“I thought we finished the right way there at the end,” Doeren said.

N.C. State finished the game with 10 penalties for 98 yards. It’s the third time in ACC play the Wolfpack has been penalized at least nine times.

This story was originally published November 22, 2015 at 11:48 AM with the headline "Tempers flare between NC State, Syracuse."