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Syracuse ‘encouraged’ by 3-3-5 defense after 31-6 loss to North Carolina

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He said it multiple times leading up to the season, and he said it again postgame. Dino Babers didn’t know what to expect out of his defense — nobody’s ever implemented this style during a pandemic.

Now, Babers knows. Engineered by defensive coordinator Tony White, SU’s 3-3-5 held the high-powered UNC offense that averaged 33.1 points per game in 2019 to 10 in three quarters. The 3-3-5 confused quarterback Sam Howell, who holds the record for most touchdowns in a season by a true freshman (38).