Syracuse 31, UConn 24: Record-setting day for McCord leads Orange to win

History in the Dome

A record-setting day for Kyle McCord powered the Syracuse Orange offense to a 31-24 win over the UConn Huskies. The Orange grabbed win No. 8 on the season, only the second time since 2013 that Syracuse reached eight victories.

Syracuse wasted no time, much like last week’s performance against Cal. A 53-yard bomb from McCord to Darrell Gill and a 22-yard corner ball from McCord to Oronde Gadsden is all the Orange need to score on the opening possession of the game.

After a UConn three-and-out, Syracuse used its typical, methodical style of offense to march down the field. However, an offensive pass interference call at the goal line on Jackson Meeks ended the drive as Jackson Kennedy missed a 36-yard field goal. Then as Syracuse seemingly forced another UConn three-and-out, the Huskies lined up for a fourth-and-one. No one managed to bring down UConn RB Cam Edwards in the pile at the LOS, and he escaped to scramble down the field for a 71-yard touchdown to tie the game.

Not to be outdone, Syracuse fired right back with another long drive that ended with an easy touchdown to Trebor Pena in the flat from three yards out. McCord’s passing continued to reign supreme, as he completed his first 11 passes of the game. UConn once again went three-and-out, but pressure from the Huskies defense finally forced Syracuse to punt.

After another short Huskies drive, The Orange once again pushed down the field with a long drive that chewed up clock. A 14 play, 68 yard drive that took 6:15 off the clock ended with a LeQuint Allen dive up the middle for a touchdown. The highlight of the drive were McCord’s targets to Darrell Gill, who used his speed and impressive footwork to create space for himself. Gill finished the first half with six catches for 127 yards.

Not to be outdone, McCord continued to write himself into the history books. With his 333-yard first half, McCord set the new single-season record for passing yards, breaking Ryan Nassib’s record of 3,746 yards.

The half wouldn’t end without trouble, however. The Huskies executed a good two minute drive with UConn QB Joe Fagnano connecting on six of seven passes. Huskies TE Louis Hansen scored on a five-yard flat to make the score 21-14 Syracuse at half.

A relatively pedestrian and uneventful third quarter saw the Orange lead remain at seven. Both teams traded field goals in quarter, with McCord breaking 400 yards of passing on the day. He did it without Trebor Pena, who was in street clothes coming out of the halftime locker room.

McCord continued to light up the stat sheet as Syracuse entered the fourth quarter. He led another long drive that ended with his rushing touchdown to extend Syracuse’s lead back to two possessions. He finished the day with 470 yards on 37-47 passing with two touchdowns. Three Syracuse receivers in Gill, Gadsden and Meeks finished with over 100 yards of receiving yards.

McCord just fell short of setting the single-game passing record set by Nassib, which was 482 yards.

Syracuse ends the regular season with ACC frontrunners Miami coming to the Dome next week. Kickoff is set for 3:30 pm on ESPN.