It wasn’t pretty, but Syracuse found a way to grind out a 44-41 win over No. 25 UNLV in overtime.
Even in last week’s blowout 42-14 win over Holy Cross, the Orange made their fans sweat, with the offense looking sloppy as quarterback Kyle McCord threw two interceptions and tight end Oronde Gadsden limited to one catch for 4 yards.
The win over UNLV was no different, as McCord threw a six-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jackson Meeks with 23 seconds left to tie the game. Keeping fans on the edge of their seat as the game went to overtime, Syracuse survived a 3rd-and-20 situation thanks to a roughing-the-passer call against the Rebels as the team drove to the one-yard line.
Running back LeQuint Allen Jr. then sealed the game, bulldozing through UNLV captain Jackson Woodard for his fourth touchdown of the game. Rightfully so, McCord and Allen’s performances will receive most of the attention, but running back Yasin Willis was just as instrumental to the team’s win.
The true freshman, nicknamed “Train” for his tough running style, finished the game with 62 rushing yards. He did it on just 8 carries for an average yards per carry of 7.8, with his longest run going for 26 yards, which set up Allen for one of his touchdowns in the third quarter.
Minutes later, Syracuse defensive back Duce Chestnut intercepted Rebels quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams, giving the Orange the ball at UNLV’s 22-yard line. Willis punched it in on the first play for his first career touchdown, helping shift the momentum back towards Syracuse after UNLV tied the game with three straight touchdowns.
His role has steadily increased in every game since the start of the season, showcasing his importance to the team. Will Nixon, the team’s presumed backup at the beginning of the year, has missed time with a foot injury and is likely to be out for a while. While Syracuse fans will hope Nixon returns to full health, he may be relegated to third on the depth chart when he returns if Willis continues to play like he did against UNLV.
