Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Stanford Cardinal quarterback Ashton Daniels (14) runs as Syracuse Orange defensive back Clarence Lewis (3) defends during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

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Stanford tops Syracuse on last-second field goal to earn first ACC win

Emmet Kenney kicked four field goals, including a 39-yarder as time expired, to send visiting Stanford to a 26-24 win over Syracuse on Friday night.

Playing in their first Atlantic Coast Conference game following a long run in the Pac-12, the Cardinal (2-1, 1-0 ACC) never trailed until the waning minutes. Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord found receiver Darrell Gill Jr. for 24 yards on third-and-17 then hooked up with Jackson Meeks for a 13-yard TD with 3:13 remaining as the hosts jumped ahead 24-23.

However, the Orange (2-1, 1-1) were unable to stop Stanford on the final possession. Ashton Daniels’ 27-yard back-shoulder throw to Elic Ayomanor on fourth-and-9 set up the Cardinal at the 18-yard line, allowing Kenney to drill the winning kick in the final seconds.

McCord finished 27 of 42 for 339 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, plus a rushing score. Daniels went 23 of 38 for 178 yards with one TD and two picks.

McCord accounted for two touchdowns — one for each team — in the latter portions of the third quarter. With a little more than four minutes left, he was intercepted by Mitch Leigber, who returned it 71 yards to put Stanford ahead 20-10 following the extra point. However, McCord got the points right back for the Orange, scoring on a 19-yard run in which he jumped over a defender on his leap into the end zone.

McCord’s second interception of the game — this one nabbed by Jay Green — set up the Cardinal around midfield less than a minute into the fourth quarter. The visitors drove into the red zone before settling for Kenney’s 35-yard field goal that made it 23-17 with 9:19 to play.

After the teams exchanged punts to begin the contest, Stanford drove 78 yards — capped by Ayomanor’s one-handed TD grab — to open the scoring. Another punt by the Orange set up Kenney’s 38-yard field goal to make it 10-0 early in the second quarter.

The Cardinal still held a 10-point advantage, 13-3, after Kenney’s 51-yard field goal with 1:35 remaining in the half. Yet, that left Syracuse enough time to cash in on McCord’s last-minute 67-yard TD pass to Umari Hatcher, whose defender fell down on the play.

–Field Level Media

Field Level Media
Sport Writer & Editor
FLM has a North American focus while tying into regional and hyper-local resources – providing the ability to distribute compelling content through the writing of professional journalists. As the U.S. sports content provider to dozens of digital and print media publishers through strategic partnerships with the likes of Reuters and Nielsen Sports, FLM covers the nuts and bolts with a breaking news desk and game event coverage.

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