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November has been Syracuse’s kryptonite. Under former head coach Dino Babers, the Orange went 7-22 in the month. Despite not being on a Babers-led team, quarterback Kyle McCord knows SU is at a fork in the road.
“I think that everyone here is trying to rewrite the narrative,” McCord said Tuesday of November struggles. “This group right here wants to be recognized as the group that turned things around here. And I think that’s exactly the opportunity that we have in front of us this month.”
In the first of a five-game slate in November that will define their season, McCord and the Orange started the month on the right foot.
Following an embarrassing 41-13 loss to then-No. 19 Pitt a week ago, Syracuse (6-2, 3-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) came back from an 18-point deficit to take down Virginia Tech (5-4, 3-2 ACC) 38-31 in overtime Saturday. The victory marked SU’s largest come-from-behind win since 2012. It also clinched SU’s third consecutive bowl appearance, the first time it’s achieved the mark since a five-year run from 1995-1999.
With just minutes to play and trailing by seven, SU moved into VT territory. A pass interference on the Hokies pushed the Orange into the red zone. McCord then hit Trebor Peña, who was ruled down at the one-yard line. LeQuint Allen Jr. finished off the drive with a leap over the top and Jackson Kennedy tied it with 29 seconds to play. The Hokies rushed once before draining the clock to overtime.
In the extra period, Allen Jr. took his first rush for 16 yards then scored on the next from nine yards out. SU’s defense then forced a fumble as Marlowe Wax stripped the ball and Fadil Diggs fell on it, clinching a victory for SU.
Syracuse defensive end Fadil Diggs recovers the game-sealing fumble in overtime to help SU defeat Virginia Tech. Lars Jendruschewitz | Photo Editor
Less than an hour before kickoff, it was announced VT would be without quarterback Kyron Drones. His absence put redshirt senior Collin Schlee into the spotlight, who attempted just one pass all season.
The Orange immediately pressured Schlee. SU dropped into a 3-3-5 defense but this time with Wax on the left, Diggs in the middle and Derek McDonald on the sideline to force a three-and-out. Rashard Perry got home on the Hokies’ second drive for a six-yard sack.
However, the Hokies moved the sticks on the next play, and shortly after Schlee found Stephen Gosnell for a 48-yard gain. VT punched it in on the next play, flipping it to Jaylin Lane to open the scoring.
Syracuse’s offense was stifled in its early opportunities. Against the Hokies’ pass rush — which entered the contest tied for sixth in the nation with 26 sacks — SU attempted quick hitters and more runs. The first two drives began with short rushes up the middle for Allen Jr. Syracuse went three-and-out on the opening two drives, with McCord totaling four yards.
Meanwhile, Schlee and the Hokies kept on the attack. VT used Schlee in the run-pass option game, keeping the Orange off balance. He ran through the middle of the field for 12 yards and then found Gosnell deep again, this time for 44 yards. The Hokies finished the drive with a one-yard rush from Schlee to jump out to an early 14-0 lead.
The Orange answered with a 44-yard field goal from Kennedy, cutting the deficit to 11 . Following two big sacks from Marlowe Wax to force a punt, Syracuse’s offense looked to answer again, this time with a unique look. Dan Villari started the drive with two rushes out of the wildcat before Allen Jr. rushed for one yard.
McCord performed a quarterback sneak to convert on a fourth-and-one but quickly faltered. On a play-action drop, McCord fired down the left flank to Umari Hatcher in one-on-one coverage. VT cornerback Mansoor Delane leaped in the air and intercepted it in the end zone.
Both sides traded defensive stops to round out the half before a costly turnover to end it. Syracuse drove downfield on a 25-yard rush from Allen Jr. McCord then hit Darrell Gill Jr. down the left sideline, but he was stripped, turning the ball over as the Hokies took a 14-3 lead into halftime.
Starting the second half with the ball, SU fell into trouble again. A 10-yard rush by Allen Jr. moved the sticks, but then the Orange fell apart. McCord fumbled the first down snap, then right guard Mark Petry jumped offside for a second-and-15. McCord missed the mark on a tight throw to Oronde Gadsden II — who didn’t record a reception until six minutes to play in the third quarter — and then more trickery from SU failed.
McCord threw a horizontal pass to Trebor Peña to his right and then the wide receiver looked downfield, clutched the ball and fired back to McCord across. The pass was lofted and easily broken up by Antwaun Powell-Ryland, forcing a punt. The Hokies then extended their lead in commanding fashion, driving 76 yards on 11 plays in under six minutes. VT converted on a 12-yard pass through the middle from Schlee to Ali Jennings to push SU’s deficit to 18.
The Orange did answer back this time, as Justus Ross-Simmons caught a pass on the left sideline, broke a shoestring tackle and scampered down the left sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. The score was his first reception at SU.
A defensive stop gave SU the ball back, and McCord drove through VT’s defense quickly again. A screen pass to Peña turned into a 41-yard play down to Virginia Tech’s four. The Orange capped the drive two plays later with Allen Jr.’s leap into the endzone and two-point conversion, trailing just 21-18 with under three to play in the third quarter.
Syracuse’s momentum continued, as Duce Chestnut emerged from his safety spot and forced Jeremiah Coney to fumble. Wax fell on the ball at VT’s 36-yard line and SU immediately had a chance to take its first lead. McCord surveyed the pocket and delivered a strike through the middle to Ross-Simmons again. The Colorado State transfer skipped into the end zone for SU’s first lead. However, the extra point was blocked, keeping SU’s advantage at three.
VT quickly matched, driving downfield before Malachi Thomas took a handoff through the middle to retake the lead at 28-24. Now needing a touchdown rather than a field goal due to its missed extra point, Syracuse went three-and-out with Powell-Ryland breaking through the middle for a sack.
The Hokies started on SU’s 37 due to a kick-catch interference penalty from SU and kicked a field goal to push their lead to a touchdown.
With under six minutes to play, McCord and the offense had a final crack at starting November with a win. Syracuse drove down the field and tied the game with less than 30 seconds to play. Like its win over UNLV, Brown elected to push the game to overtime rather than go for the two-point conversion.
In overtime, Allen Jr. punched it in and Wax clinched the victory with his forced fumble, starting November 1-0 under Fran Brown.
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