Tag: syracuse orange

Nov 16, 2024; Berkeley, California, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Jackson Meeks (7) stretches for the goal line as he is pushed out of bounds by California Golden Bears defensive back Nohl Williams (3) during the second quarter at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

Syracuse makes Cal pay for early mistakes, wins 33-25

Posted on | by Field Level Media

LeQuint Allen ran for two touchdowns and Kyle McCord threw for 323 yards and a score as visiting Syracuse topped California 33-25 on Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.

Allen finished with 23 carries for 109 yards, Jackson Meeks caught a touchdown pass and Trebor Pena chipped in 11 catches for 97 yards for the Orange (7-3, 4-3 ACC). Syracuse had dropped two of its previous three games.

The Bears (5-5, 1-5) had won two in a row entering Saturday, but Fernando Mendoza threw two early interceptions and the Cal defense couldn’t get enough stops. Mendoza finished 22 of 34 for 225 yards with a late touchdown, while Jaydn Ott ran 11 times for 78 yards and a score.

Syracuse dominated the first quarter, outgaining Cal 117-29 en route to a 6-0 lead. Jackson Kennedy kicked two of his four field goals in the quarter, and both of Mendoza’s picks were in the first as well.

Mendoza’s second interception set up the first touchdown of the game — a 30-yard run by Allen that made it 13-0 early in the second quarter.

However, the Bears didn’t need much time to answer. Jaivian Thomas took off untouched for a 75-yard touchdown on the second play of the ensuing drive to get the hosts within 13-7.

The visitors had their own answer, though, as they marched 75 yards in nine plays, capped by Allen’s 1-yard scoring plunge.

Then following a Cal punt, the Orange embarked on another scoring drive. McCord found Meeks for 6 yards on fourth-and-3, and then the duo connected again on the next play for a 6-yard touchdown pass.

Cal missed a 48-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, but the Bears dented the scoreboard midway through the third quarter on Ott’s 15-yard touchdown run, making it 27-14.

The Orange countered with Kennedy’s 43-yard field goal — the team’s sixth straight scoring possession to open the game. Kennedy’s 32-yard field goal with 3:12 left in the game essentially sealed the deal.

The Bears got into the end zone with 1:01 remaining, but Syracuse recovered the ensuing onside kick.

–Field Level Media

Nov 9, 2024; Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, USA; Boston College Eagles running back Kye Robichaux (5) runs against the Syracuse Orange during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

Boston College runs all over Syracuse to snap 3-game losing skid

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kye Robichaux and Jordan McDonald combined for 331 rushing yards and three touchdowns as host Boston College beat Syracuse 37-31 in an Atlantic Coast Conference clash on Saturday in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

A 16-point third quarter lifted the Eagles (5-4, 2-3 ACC), who broke a three-game skid in a game of vastly contrasting styles.

Anchored by Robichaux (28 carries, 198 yards, two touchdowns) and McDonald (15 carries, 133 yards, one touchdown), Boston College logged 313 of its 378 total yards on 51 rushing attempts.

Quarterbacks Thomas Castellanos and Grayson James combined for just 65 yards through the air, but both threw touchdowns.

Kyle McCord threw for 392 of Syracuse’s 431 total yards during a 31-for-48, two-touchdown performance. Jackson Meeks (105 yards) and Oronde Gadsden II (102) were 100-yard receivers for the Orange (6-3, 3-3).

LeQuint Allen scored on a 4-yard run to finish an eight-play drive turning Syracuse’s 14-0 deficit into a 21-14 lead with 8:36 left in the third quarter. With James quarterbacking, Robichaux’s third run in a 49-second span — aided by an unnecessary roughness penalty — tied the score at 21.

The go-ahead points came on the next play from scrimmage when Donovan Ezeirauku strip-sacked McCord and knocked the ball through the end zone for the first Boston College safety since 2012.

The ensuing drive spanned 12 plays and 67 yards in 6:55, ending with McDonald bouncing to the left for a 13-yard touchdown in the final minute.

Syracuse covered 75 yards on its own 10-play drive to start the fourth, moving within 30-28 on McCord’s 12-yard pass to Darrell Gill Jr.

The Eagles ensured their lead with 6:51 remaining in regulation as James faked a handoff and found a wide-open Jeremiah Franklin for an 18-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1.

After Liam Connor missed a 29-yard field-goal attempt on Boston College’s opening drive of the game, Quintavious Hutchins recovered Allen’s fumble on the following series. The host Eagles scored first on Robichaux’s 34-yard run down the right side with 2:43 left in the first.

Two series later, the hosts doubled their lead after forcing McCord to throw an incomplete fourth-down pass. Five straight McDonald rushes set up Castellanos for his first completed pass of the game — a 9-yard touchdown to Lewis Bond.

McCord led back-to-back touchdown drives to make it 14-14 at halftime. The Ohio State transfer hit Gadsden for big bookending plays, scoring on a 17-yard pass to the right.

After the Eagles went three-and-out, McCord’s 25-yard run and a connection with Meeks helped Allen find the end zone on a 3-yard run with 2:10 left before intermission.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies linebacker Jaden Keller (24) makes a tackle on Syracuse Orange wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Syracuse rallies from big deficit, tops Virginia Tech in OT

Posted on | by Field Level Media

LeQuint Allen ran for three touchdowns — including the late tying score and the decisive score in overtime — as host Syracuse rallied from an 18-point deficit to stun Virginia Tech 38-31 on Saturday.

Allen rushed 21 times for 121 yards, while Justus Ross-Simmons, who came in without a catch on the season, nabbed two TD receptions for the Orange (6-2, 3-2 ACC). Kyle McCord went 24-of-35 passing for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception to help Syracuse become bowl-eligible for the third straight season.

Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2) watched its three-game winning streak come to an end despite a productive day from Collin Schlee (16-of-24 passing, 206 yards, TD) and three rushing scores, including one by Schlee. The Hokies led by a touchdown late in regulation before allowing Allen’s 1-yard TD run with 29 seconds left.

That set up an overtime session in which Syracuse opened with Allen’s 9-yard scoring run, as he caromed off defenders into the end zone. On the ensuing possession, Marlowe Wax forced a fumble by Schlee, and Fadil Diggs recovered to send the Syracuse sideline into a frenzy.

Virginia Tech jumped out 14-0 behind a pair of first-quarter rushing touchdowns, and the Hokies were still in control midway through the third when Schlee found Ali Jennings for a 12-yard TD pass to make it 21-3.

However, the Orange continued to fight, as McCord hooked up with Ross-Simmons for a 55-yard scoring strike less than two minutes later. After a Hokies punt, McCord found Trebor Pena for 41 yards to set up Allen’s 1-yard TD run.

The next Virginia Tech possession ended when Jeremiah Coney fumbled and Wax recovered at the Hokies 39. Syracuse didn’t need long to cash in, as McCord connected with Ross-Simmons for a 28-yard score to put the hosts in front.

However, Jackson Kennedy’s extra point was blocked, leaving Syracuse ahead 24-21 with 14:22 remaining.

Eight plays later, the visitors regained the lead as Malachi Thomas (14 carries, 73 yards) ran in for a 15-yard score.

The Orange punted on their next trip, setting up another Hokies score, a 27-yard field goal by John Love to make it 31-24 with 5:16 to play.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange running back LeQuint Allen (1) prepares for contact by Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (0) in the fourth quarter at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

LeQuint Allen, Syracuse look to run past NC State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Syracuse and North Carolina State are on different ends of the momentum spectrum heading into Saturday night’s Atlantic Coast Conference matchup in Raleigh, N.C.

The Orange (4-1, 1-1) are coming off a thrilling road victory over then-No. 25 UNLV last week. LeQuint Allen scored his fourth touchdown of the game in overtime to propel Syracuse to a 44-41 triumph.

“He’s the passion of our program,” Orange coach Fran Brown said of the junior tailback. “If I could just take one person and have every single other kid on our football team act just like he is, it would be LeQuint Allen.”

The visitors held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and compiled 492 yards of offense, including 355 passing yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Kyle McCord.

“I trust Kyle a lot,” Brown said of the Ohio State transfer. “Everybody trusts Kyle.”

Meanwhile, North Carolina State (3-3, 0-2) is coming off a 34-30 loss to Wake Forest in a game in which the Wolfpack squandered a 10-point lead with under nine minutes remaining. North Carolina State played most of the game without starting quarterback Grayson McCall, who suffered a concussion on a vicious hit in the first quarter.

“We’ll give him time to go through the steps that he wants to go through before we talk any more about what the next steps are,” coach Dave Doeren said. “… Thankful that he is, for the most part, OK.”

If McCall is not available this weekend, then freshman CJ Bailey will get the start under center. Bailey completed 28 of 42 passes for 272 yards with two touchdowns and an interception against Wake Forest.

North Carolina State had won seven of the previous eight meetings before dropping a 24-9 decision at Syracuse in 2022. In a matchup where both teams were ranked in the top 20, Oronde Gadsden II caught two touchdowns to help the Orange prevail.

This season, Gadsden is one of four Syracuse players with at least 26 receptions and three touchdowns. Trebor Pena leads the way with 34 catches for 383 yards and five TDs, although Gadsden, Jackson Meeks and Allen also will challenge the Wolfpack defense through the air.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Kyle McCord (6) looks to pass against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images

Syracuse seeks to continue dominance of Holy Cross

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Syracuse will try to make it 14 straight victories over Holy Cross when the teams meet in a non-conference game Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y.

The Orange (2-1) are coming off a 26-24, last-second loss to Stanford and will finish a four-game homestand to open the season.

Holy Cross, under new coach Dan Curran, is 1-3 after giving up a touchdown with 12 seconds left and losing to Yale 38-31 last week. All three of the Crusaders’ losses have been by a touchdown or less.

Syracuse has won the last 13 meetings between the schools and is eager to remove the bitter taste from the Stanford defeat.

“We’re excited to play against these guys,” Orange first-year coach Fran Brown said of Holy Cross. “I think they all do a good job and are a good football team. Those guys are coming off a tough loss, just like us, so it will be a good game.”

Ohio State transfer Kyle McCord has energized the Orange offense at quarterback. He’s thrown for more than 300 yards in each of Syracuse’s first three games, and he ranks third in the nation with an average of 358 passing yards per game.

Three Orange wide receivers have 12 or more catches, led by Trebor Pena with 22. LeQuint Allen leads the rushing attack with 206 yards on 38 carries.

McCord has been sacked six times, and Brown said his team needs to be better balanced.

“We just have to run the football better,” Brown said. “We have some things to work on in practice, some things to help out our offensive line, and help Kyle so we don’t put as much pressure on him.”

Holy Cross is coming off a season in which it won a share of the Patriot League title. Curran took over for Bob Chesney after 11 years at Merrimack. Chesney left Holy Cross after last season to become James Madison’s head coach.

The Crusaders’ offense took a big hit when All-America senior running back Jordan Fuller was lost for the season to an injury in a win over Bryant on Sept. 14.

Joe Pesansky has thrown for 875 yards and four scores. All-Patriot League linebacker Frankie Monte had 17 tackles in the loss to Yale.

“They believe in each other,” Curran said of his team. “Every week is a new opportunity.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs the ball after a catch into the end zone for a touchdown against Ohio Bobcats safety Adonis Williams Jr. (5) during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

QB Kyle McCord shines in Syracuse debut for win over Ohio

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kyle McCord threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns in his Syracuse debut, guiding the host Orange to a 38-22 victory over Ohio on Saturday.

McCord, a highly regarded transfer from Ohio State, completed 27 of 39 passes, including seven to Oronde Gadsden II (108 yards, one TD) and six to Trebor Pena (78 yards, two TDs). Pena added a rushing touchdown, while LeQuint Allen collected 122 total yards and a score for the Orange (1-0) in their first game under coach Fran Brown.

Ohio’s Parker Navarro went 18 of 30 for 181 yards with an interception. The top offensive weapon for the Bobcats (0-1) was Anthony Tyus III, who rushed 16 times for 203 yards and two scores.

The Orange managed just nine yards in the first quarter and trailed 6-0 at the conclusion of the period after Gianni Spetic kicked field goals of 43 and 37 yards for the visitors.

The tide shifted in the second quarter, as Syracuse racked up 220 yards and outscored the visitors 17-3 en route to an eight-point lead at intermission.

McCord opened the second quarter with a 28-yard scoring pass to Gadsden, who got open down the left sideline for the game’s first touchdown. Brady Denaburg then boosted the lead to 10-6 with a 26-yard field goal.

Spetic kicked another field goal with 49 seconds left in the second quarter, but Syracuse responded in the waning moments of the half with McCord’s 20-yard TD pass to Pena along the left side of the end zone

Tyus’ 13-yard TD run early in the third quarter kept the Bobcats close, but the Orange scored the next three touchdowns to take control of the contest.

McCord threw TD passes of 5 yards to Allen and 14 yards to Pena to make it 31-16. Pena added a 1-yard TD rush early in the fourth to create a 38-16 cushion.

Tyus’ 46-yard scoring burst capped the scoring with 12:22 remaining.

–Field Level Media

Jul 25, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; Syracuse Orange head coach Fran Brown speaks to the media during the ACC Kickoff at Hilton Charlotte Uptown. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Syracuse looks to start new era on right foot vs. Ohio

Posted on | by Field Level Media

With a new coach, a new quarterback and a new influx of talent, Syracuse faces raised expectations heading into its season opener against visiting Ohio on Saturday afternoon.

The Orange hired Georgia defensive backs coach Fran Brown as their new coach last November while they were wrapping up a 6-7 season. They actually won their first four games before a midseason collapse ultimately cost Dino Babers his job.

Brown took aim at the transfer portal immediately and secured former Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord, among several other highly regarded players.

“(Saturday is) definitely a date that I’ve had circled on my calendar since the day I decided to come here,” said McCord, who threw for 3,170 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season.

Among the returning stars for the Orange are running back LeQuint Allen (1,064 rushing yards, nine TDs) and linebacker Marlowe Wax (110 tackles, four sacks). Together, the veteran leaders and newcomers are embracing Brown’s DART (detailed, accountable, relentless and tough) mentality.

“(I hope that Saturday), you can really see DART,” Brown said. “You can see that we play like that. And that it’s not just a saying. It’s who we are.”

Bobcats coach Tim Albin has a catch phrase of his own.

“I always say: ‘We fear none, respect all.’ We have our hands full (this weekend),” he said. “Coach Brown’s done a really good job. I’m really impressed by the film that we’re studying.”

Ohio won its final four games (all by double digits) last season and finished with a 10-3 record, capped by a 41-21 triumph over Georgia Southern in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Parker Navarro started that game at quarterback for the Bobcats and went 11 of 16 for 120 yards with a touchdown, while adding 71 yards on the ground.

Navarro will guide the Bobcats’ offense with plenty of help from Rickey Hunt, who recorded a school record-tying five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) in the 2023 season finale.

Syracuse has won all three meetings with Ohio, most recently a 29-9 victory in the 2021 season opener.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange wide receiver Damien Alford (5) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the second half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Syracuse dismisses top WR Damien Alford

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Syracuse has dismissed leading receiver Damien Alford from the team, ESPN reported Monday.

The school confirmed to Syracuse.com that Alford was no longer with the program. Alford will be allowed to continue academically this semester, according to the school spokesperson.

No reason was given for the dismissal.

Syracuse hired Fran Brown as its new head coach in November.

Alford led the Orange with 33 catches for 610 yards this past season, tying for the team lead with three receiving touchdowns in 13 games.

Alford has 67 catches for 1,291 yards and seven TDs in four seasons at Syracuse.

–Field Level Media

Nov 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Schrader (6) drops back to pass against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons during the first half at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett Shrader shines as Syracuse tops Wake Forest

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Garrett Shrader had three touchdown passes and a rushing score Saturday as Syracuse topped visiting Wake Forest 35-31 in the regular-season finale for both Atlantic Coast Conference teams.

In its first game since firing coach Dino Babers, Syracuse (6-6, 2-6 ACC) gained bowl eligibility under the guidance of interim coach Nunzio Campanile. Jason Simmons Jr. intercepted Demon Deacons quarterback Michael Kern in the end zone with two minutes left to essentially clinch the victory.

Shrader finished 10 of 15 for 173 yards with 46 more yards on the ground. Orange tight end Dan Villari caught a touchdown and passed for a score, while Damien Alford had 126 receiving yards and caught two TDs and LeQuint Allen ran for 144 yards.

Kern went 17 of 24 for 261 yards with three touchdowns and one interception for Wake Forest (4-8, 1-7). Taylor Morin caught seven passes for 140 yards, while Wesley Grimes had two TD grabs.

The Orange opened the scoring midway through the first quarter on Shrader’s 35-yard pass to Alford. The Demon Deacons answered promptly as Kern’s 48-yard pass to Morin set up a 16-yard pass to Grimes to draw the visitors even.

Shrader’s 1-yard TD plunge early in the second quarter regained a 14-7 lead for Syracuse. However, Wake Forest drove down the field for a 36-yard field goal by Tyler Black.

The Orange had a chance to extend their advantage in the waning seconds of the first half, but Shrader hit Allen inbounds, short of the end zone, and the remaining seconds ticked off.

Early in the third quarter, Villari threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Alford, who got behind the defense for a 21-10 advantage.

Justice Ellison’s 2-yard TD run got Wake Forest within four points, but Syracuse restored an 11-point cushion on Villari’s one-handed touchdown grab from Shrader early in the fourth.

On the next Wake Forest play, Kern hit Morin for 59 yards, setting up his 16-yard scoring strike to Jahmal Banks on the next snap.

The teams exchanged touchdowns again later in the fourth – Shrader’s 37-yard pass to Umari Hatcher, followed by Kern’s 9-yard TD pass to Grimes – setting up the exciting finish.

–Field Level Media

Nov 18, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Haynes King (10) throws a pass against the Syracuse Orange in the first half at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Ga. Tech smothers Syracuse, 31-22

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Haynes King threw two touchdown passes and ran for another as host Georgia Tech became bowl-eligible with a 31-22 home victory over Syracuse on Saturday evening in Atlanta.

King finished 16 of 20 for 180 yards and ran for a team-high 82 yards as the Yellow Jackets (6-5, 5-3 ACC) won for the third time in four games. Jamal Haynes contributed two touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving — for Georgia Tech.

Syracuse (5-6, 1-6) essentially played without a quarterback for the second straight game, as typical starter Garrett Shrader (upper body) was severely limited and regular backup Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (lower body) was sidelined.

Tight end Dan Villari took a bulk of the snaps for the Orange and went 14 of 14 for 59 yards while rushing for 64 yards and a score. Running back LeQuint Allen also saw significant action at quarterback and ran for 120 yards on 27 carries.

Georgia Tech took the opening kickoff and lit the scoreboard on King’s 15-yard TD pass to Haynes. Syracuse responded with Brady Denaburg’s 44-yard field goal, but that marked the only first-half points for the Orange.

Denaburg missed a 50-yarder early in the second quarter and the Yellow Jackets quickly made Syracuse pay, as King threw a bomb to Dominick Blaylock for a 53-yard touchdown. The hosts tacked on a 22-yard field goal from Aidan Birr in the waning seconds of the half for a 17-3 lead at intermission.

Things got even worse for Syracuse to begin the second half, as Darrell Gill Jr. fumbled the kickoff and Georgia Tech recovered. Haynes ran for a 30-yard touchdown on the next play to make it 24-3.

The Orange began their comeback with Villari’s 4-yard TD run with about 10 minutes left in the third quarter.

Later in the period, Allen unleashed a 53-yard punt return to set up his own 1-yard TD plunge, but the Orange botched the snap on the extra point. That error came back to bite the Orange, as they had to go for two after Allen’s 2-yard TD run midway through the fourth.

Allen tried to pass on the conversion attempt, but nothing materialized as Syracuse still trailed 24-22.

King’s 19-yard TD run with 2:22 left essentially sealed the outcome.

–Field Level Media