Coach Dino Babers’ squad visits Virginia Tech tonight. The last time that happened, Syracuse football won 41-36 on a walk-off 45-yard passing touchdown from Garrett Shrader to Damien Alford. It was one of the best moments for the Orange since Babers took over seven years ago. Which other games and plays make the top five?
Honorable Mentions
There are two moments that just barely miss the list.
First up is one many SU fans might dismiss: a 39-30 overtime win over Wake Forest in 2019. It capped off a 5-7 season, so didn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. But if you were in the Dome that day, you get it. It was senior night for a talented class of ‘19. There was a fairly big crowd. After a field goal to start overtime, Syracuse cornerback Trill Williams sealed the deal with a 94-yard pick-six. Was it an all-time Orange moment? No, but it was a great way to end a mediocre season.
Another honorable mention is the Tommy DeVito game, a 40-37 double-overtime victory over North Carolina in 2018. The current Giants quarterback had his best game in orange, with three passing touchdowns. Here’s the catch: he came in off the bench with five minutes left in regulation. DeVito showed out and helped carry SU to a win over a pretty bad UNC team, but he certainly did it in exciting fashion. If Syracuse lost this game, maybe 2018 wouldn’t have been as great as it was for the Orange.
5. Damien Alford’s Dagger vs. VT
Beating Virginia Tech wasn’t a huge deal in the grand scheme of the 2021 season. But the way it went down? Boy, was it sweet.
A game-winning touchdown from midfield to beat the Hokies on their own turf was a beautiful sight to see. Garrett Shrader finally proved he had a legit arm, after spending the early season running for his life. Damien Alford solidified his identity as a big play, down the field receiver. Plus, SU closed out a one-possession game under Dino Babers.
There are more meaningful moments, but this play was all-timer.
4. Gadsden Goes Crazy
Oronde Gadsden announced himself to the world in a 32-29 win over Purdue last season. And he put an exclamation point on the game with a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown with under 10 seconds to go.
The tight end finished the game with 112 yards and two touchdowns. But his final catch is the one that made the Dome go crazy.
3. SU Fans Storm the Field
There’s almost nothing better than mobbing the field after a big win. That was the case for Syracuse after a 24-9 win over NC State to go 6-0 for the first time since 1987.
Orange fans had so much hope after this win. While everything came crashing down in a five-game losing skid, the moment SU fans hit the field was still euphoric.
2. Double-Digit Wins, and a Bowl Victory
A 34-18 domination of West Virginia in the Camping World Bowl was a perfect way to end the 2018 season.
SU reached 10 wins. Eric Dungey showed out one last time. And in classic Syracuse fashion, the Orange had to come back from an 18-17 fourth quarter deficit.
There wasn’t a specific moment in the game that stands above the rest, but the glory of the win itself is too important to put any lower in the list.
1. Syracuse Shocks Clemson
With 40,000 fans in the Dome and #2 Clemson coming to town, nobody expected a close game. Instead, Syracuse stayed in the game from start to finish, and came up with a 27-24 win back in 2016.
In the second year of Coach Dino Babers’ tenure, this win was huge. It was something SU could put on its resume for years to come. It was the birth of “Who’s house? Our house!” It made the entire 2016 season.
The field was mobbed after the game. The locker room was a party. There’s been no better moment for Syracuse football in the last several years.
