Syracuse loses to Stanford 26-24 by last-second field goal

Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse University football team had just taken the lead for the first time in Friday night’s showdown.

Kyle McCord connected with Jackson Meeks for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Orange a one-point lead with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter.

The SU defense had played quite well throughout the game, intercepting Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels twice, limiting Stanford to a couple of field goals, and keeping preseason All-ACC receiver Elic Ayomanor relatively well in check.

But on the decisive drive, Stanford converted a 4th and 9 and thus gained the opportunity for a walk-off field goal.

Emmet Kenney covered the 39 yards with ease.

Syracuse could not survive a duel with new ACC member Stanford on Friday evening and lost to the Cardinal 26:24.

McCord finished the game completing 27 of 42 passes for 339 yards, two passing touchdowns, and two interceptions. Despite a 19-yard touchdown, he had -8 rushing yards at the end of the game.

Trebor Peña was by far the Orange's best pass receiver and most receiving yards, finishing with 10 catches for 101 yards.

Syracuse's defense improved, although it was a difficult day for the opponent, aside from a few bright moments like the McCord goal.

Justin Barron and Derek McDonald led the way in tackles with eight each. Devin Grant and Clarence Lewis each intercepted a pass from Stanford QB Ashton Daniels. They held Elic Ayomanor to seven catches for 87 receiving yards.

The Orange are going undefeated for another week, but have had some absences that could continue to affect them in the future.

Syracuse had five fewer new players on the roster by the end of Friday's game, not counting linebacker Marlowe Wax, who had been out since Week 1 with a lower leg injury.

Four players were already unavailable for action before the start of the game: defensive lineman Dion Wilson Jr., wide receiver Emanuel Ross, running back Will Nixon and wide receiver Zeed Haynes, who was absent for personal reasons.

In the first quarter, the Orange also lost cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr., who was taken to the locker room. It was later announced on the ESPN game broadcast that he was out for the game.

After a rough first half and not scoring a single point on the first possession of the second quarter, Syracuse's offense finally became somewhat consistent midway through the third quarter.

Lewis intercepted Daniels and returned the ball to Syracuse at their own 25-yard line.

But on a third and 12 attempt at the halfway line, McCord targeted Dan Villari. The tight end either didn't turn around on his route or didn't turn around in time, and Mitch Leigber scored a clean pass for a 71-yard touchdown.

At first it looked as if Syracuse could manage a drive to tie the score or take the lead for the first time, but then they were behind by double digits again (20:10).

The Orange recovered from that muff with McCord's rushing touchdown, but the next time the Orange went out, McCord was intercepted a second time.

The interception festival, in which both defenses actively participated, began early with Grant's interception against Daniels in the second quarter.

Grant dove in front of a mid-range pass from Ashton Daniels that was aimed at Tiger Bachmeier and was caught at the Stanford 23-yard line.

It could have been the game-winning play, but Syracuse's offense couldn't reach the end zone on the ensuing drive. Brady Denaburg, however, scored with a 31-yard field goal.

Given the Orange offense's record so far this season, the lack of movement there, even deep in Cardinals territory, was surprising, but not in the context of the game.

SU failed to move the ball more than 16 yards on any of its first three drives.

The drive immediately before Grant's interception went three yards and ended with just one net yard. McCord was sacked on second down for a loss of nine yards and lost the ball. Left tackle Da'Metrius Weatherspoon recovered the ball.

Syracuse did not reach the end zone until the end of the first half and went into the locker room with a 13-10 deficit.

Fran Brown showed his time management skills again when he set up the drive, called a timeout with 1:49 left in the half and Stanford was stuck on third-and-10. The defense broke up the third attempt, the Cardinal settled for a field goal and the Orange got the ball back with 1:35 left.

McCord was sacked early in the drive—he was sacked four times during the game—but two plays later, Umari Hatcher scored a 67-yard touchdown after the defender went down in coverage, giving Hatcher a clear path to the end zone.

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