Syracuse football fans will have to wait another couple weeks for the debut of a notable transfer. Wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons, who transferred from Colorado State, is not suited up for the Orange’s ACC opener against Georgia Tech. Kickoff is at noon.
Syracuse moved to 2-0 (1-0 in ACC play) by surviving a late Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets flurry to win 31-28. It was a game the Orange had in control until the final 8 minutes when Tech scored two touchdowns and had the JMA Dome nervously watching.
The Orange offense got off to a blistering start marching down the field to score first on Trebor Pena’s fourth touchdown of the season as he hauled in an 11 yard pass from Kyle McCord. A clutch third down completion from Kyle McCord to Oronde Gadsden gave Orange fans a sigh of relief as they avoided a late collapse.
Georgia Tech equaled after Haynes King avoided a tackle in the backfield and went 21 yards. Syracuse next drive stalled after a dropped pass and Brady Denaburg’s field goal was blocked and a wild first quarter ended up even at 7.
McCord and Pena hooked up again and the defense got a stop and McCord worked some magic getting the Orange back down the field. A mismatch got Oronde Gadsden wide open to put Syracuse up 21-7. A bad pursuit angle by Duce Chestnut allowed King to get his second rushing touchdown and the Dome crowd was subdued a bit.
After a blocked punt gave Tech great field position, the Syracuse defense kept them to a long field goal attempt which went wide and the Orange took a 21-14 lead into the half.
Syracuse got a stop and a long drive ended up with a Denaburg field goal to push the lead to 10. The Orange missed a couple of opportunities on the drive but Brown showed some faith in his offense by going for a 4th and 1 on Syracuse’s side of the field. A Zeed Haynes end around kept the Tech defense on the field for longer than they would have liked. The next Orange drive stalled after a Gadsden drop on 3rd down and we went to the fourth quarter with Syracuse up 24-14.
Huge 3rd and 4th down stops by Fadil Diggs gave the Orange the ball in a position to put the game away and McCord found Gadsen from 17 yards out to put Syracuse up 17. Georgia Tech’s offense finally got going with the Orange sitting in a softer defense and King hit Chase Lane from 4 yards out to make it 31-21 with 5:08 to go.
Of course, it can’t be easy for the Orange so after they botched the onside kick, Tech made it 31-28 on a 15-yard run from Jamal Haynes. Syracuse had to convert on offense and after two near-interceptions, Oronde Gadsden made a clutch 3rd down catch followed by a 24-yard run from LeQuint Allen to seal the win.
McCord finished the day with 380 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. Gadsden and Pena had 6 receptions and 2 TD’s each. Allen finished with 83 yards rushing on 15 carries. Diggs and Derek McDonald led the defense with 7 tackles.
Syracuse was 10-17 on 3rd down conversions as the Orange made clutch plays throughout the afternoon to keep drives alive. The Orange are off next weekend and will welcome the Stanford Cardinal to the JMA Dome on Friday September 20th.
Key Takeaways
Syracuse's Physicality
Syracuse came out on top after an intense physical battle. The Orange showcased their physicality and defensive prowess against Georgia Tech. Coach Fran Brown emphasized the importance of being physical and tough after Georgia Tech coach Brent Key made a comment about the Orange’s lack of physicality. The Orange's defense held Georgia Tech's leading rusher, Haynes King, to just 35 yards on 11 carries, limiting Georgia Tech’s rushing attack.
McCord’s Efficiency
Despite a late scare, Syracuse’s offense was led by quarterback Kyle McCord’s stellar performance. He completed 32 of 46 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns, two each to Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden II. McCord was especially impressive in clutch situations, converting critical third downs throughout the game. His efficiency and ability to find open receivers were key to the Orange’s victory.
Special Teams Struggles
Although Syracuse pulled off the upset, the special teams unit had a rough day. Georgia Tech blocked a field goal attempt, a punt, and recovered an onside kick. The Orange will need to address these special teams issues if they want to continue their winning ways.
A Night to Remember
The Orange were able to secure a huge win and celebrate Dwight Freeney’s jersey retirement during halftime ceremonies. Freeney was recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, solidifying his legacy as a Syracuse legend. The Orange will look to build on this momentum as they head into a well-deserved bye week before hosting Stanford in the JMA Dome on September 20th.
