The start to the Syracuse season has been a roller coaster. However, it seems that the Orange keep finding ways to finish on top, including last night’s 44-41 overtime victory over UNLV. While SU hasn’t always looked like the most complete team this year, the Orange continue to find ways to win.
In the season opener against Ohio, it was the SU defense that kept Syracuse relevant in the first half. If you remember, Kyle McCord almost threw two interceptions on his first two throws. Finally, the Orange offense found its rhythm in the second half and won the contest.
Next up, Syracuse faced the tall task of a ranked Georgia Tech squad. This time, SU’s offense got off to a fast start, while the defense collapsed just a bit in the fourth quarter, allowing the Yellow Jackets back into the game.
After a bye week, Stanford got the better of Syracuse. The Orange looked weak offensively, and McCord didn’t get going until later in the game, even though he threw a couple costly interceptions. Once again, however, the defense kept Syracuse in the game, but it was ultimately defeated by a last minute fourth-down heave that set the Cardinal up for a field goal.
Fast forward to Holy Cross: the offense started strong but then stalled, and the defense also flip-flopped momentum.
Finally, last night, in a game of ups and downs, the Syracuse offense looked as cohesive as it has all season. McCord finished with 355 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with one interception. He also ran the ball four times for 22 yards, showcasing rare mobility, and even slinging throws in tight coverage to various receivers throughout the night. LeQuint Allen had himself a dandy with four touchdowns, two on the ground and two through the air.
Despite the special teams mishaps, Syracuse got the win. Sure, fans might blame SU for those mistakes and other miscues on both sides of the ball, but are we really going to complain about Syracuse beating a ranked opponent for the second time in a season since 2001? I know I’m not.
