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Writer's pictureDan Tortora

Syracuse Awakens After Half, Wins in OT



The Syracuse Orange returned home to the Dome after spending the entire month of October on the road, amounting a record in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) of 2-2, and 5-2 overall.


Entering the building to face them were the Virginia Tech Hokies, coming in 3-1 in the ACC and 5-3 in total on the season thus far.


After punting away their first drive, the Hokies scored on back-to-back possessions, both on the ground. The first score came from a reverse play to redshirt-senior wide receiver Jaylin Lane for a seven-yard rush to the left side of the end zone. Virginia Tech's second score came from a quarterback keeper from a yard out by redshirt-senior Collin Schlee, who played in place of injured starting quarterback, Kyron Drones, a redshirt-junior. At the 4:31 mark of the first quarter, the Hokies were ahead 14-0.


With a reception by the four-minute mark, junior running back LeQuint Allen, Jr., passed Antwon Bailey as the Syracuse running back with the most receptions ever for the Orange (93).


The Orange would score on this drive that would end at the top of the second quarter, thanks to redshirt-freshman kicker Jadyn Oh from 44 yards away, bringing the score to 14-3 Hokies at the 14:56 mark.


Senior linebacker Marlowe Wax, Jr., in his return to the Dome after an early-season injury, would get to Schlee not once but twice on the next Virginia Tech drive, sacking Schlee for a loss of 12 yards with the help of redshirt-freshman defensive end David Omopariola and then again for a loss of seven yards, resulting in 4th-&-25 and a punt by the Hokies.


On Syracuse's following drive, redshirt-junior tight end Dan Villari came in in "wildcat" formation and took a direct snap seven yards forward. Overall, the Orange ran the ball four consecutive times, the last being a one-yard keeper by senior quarterback Kyle McCord for a first down on 4th-&-1.


The first pass on this drive would be from McCord to redshirt-junior wide receiver Umari Hatcher in single-coverage in the left side of the end zone. Junior cornerback Mansoor Delane was in on the coverage. He released contact with Hatcher and caught the ball as he was falling back in his end zone, taking the ball away from the Orange with this interception.


However, Syracuse's defense would prevent a score off of this takeaway, getting the ball back off of a punt at the 5:19 mark of the second quarter.


The Orange would come away without a score but their defense once again would prevent points, with junior defensive back Devin Grant putting a hit on graduate wide receiver Stephen Gosnell that forced Gosnell to drop the ball, followed by a sack by senior defensive back/linebacker Justin Barron and senior defensive end Fadil Diggs to force 4th-&-18, and a punt.


McCord would air out to sophomore wide receiver Darrell Gill, Jr., for an 18-yard reception, but Gill would fumble the ball and it would be recovered by redshirt-junior linebacker Jaden Keller at his own 18-yard line, negating another opportunity for the Orange.


The first half would conclude with the Hokies ahead 14-3, and the Orange to receive the ball out of the break.


Schlee finished the first half 10-for-15 (66.7%) for 144 yards and one rushing touchdown.


McCord was 12-for-20 (60%) for 90 yards and one interception.


Gosnell led all receivers on both teams at the half, with 99 yards on three catches. Graduate wide receiver Da'Quan Felton followed with 25 yards on three receptions.


Syracuse redshirt-junior wide receiver Trebor Pena had five catches for 31 yards, followed by senior wide receiver Jackson Meeks who had four catches for 27 yards.


Virginia Tech redshirt-freshman running back Jeremiah Coney had five rushes for 84 yards (16.8 yards per carry)


Allen had eight carries for 53 yards (6.6 yards per carry).


Delane of the Hokies led all players with five first-half tackles.


Wax, senior strong safety Alijah Clark, and true freshman cornerback Marcellus Barnes each had four total tackles for the Orange in the first half.


Syracuse would punt away their first opportunity of the second half, while Schlee would find graduate wide receiver Ali Jennings in tight coverage for a 12-yard touchdown over the middle of the end zone to elevate Virginia Tech to a 21-3 lead with 7:44 left in the third quarter.


On the second Orange drive of the second half, McCord found junior wide receiver Justus Ross-Simmons on the left sideline who would run it out for a 55-yard touchdown, his first in orange and blue after scoring six touchdowns over two seasons, three receiving in each season, for the Colorado State Rams.


Schlee would overthrow his receiver downfield and the Hokies would punt on their second drive of the third quarter.


Allen would leap into the air for a one-yard touchdown on the Syracuse's third possession of the third quarter, the Orange would follow by going for a two-point conversion, where McCord found redshirt-junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II coming across from right to left and wide open in the back of the end zone.


From down 21-3 to down 21-18, Syracuse brought themselves to within a field goal at the 2:53 mark of the third quarter.


Redshirt-junior free safety Duce Chestnut would force Coney to fumble on his carry attempt, and Wax would recover for the Orange at the Hokies' 39-yard line; this was the Hokies first turnover of the day.


Syracuse would capitalize off of this turnover when McCord found Ross-Simmons who caught the ball and then took advantage of two defenders contacting each other, running forward for a 28-yard score to give the Orange their first lead of the game, 24-21 (after their extra-point try was blocked), with 14:22 to play.


With this touchdown, Syracuse had risen to 21-unanswered points.


But, redshirt-junior running back Malachi Thomas would change that when he ran through a wide-open hole for a 15-yard score to raise the Hokies back above the Orange, 28-24, with 11:04 to go.


Syracuse would not have a response on their next drive.


Instead, McCord would be sacked on 3rd-&-7 for a loss of 11 yards and the Orange would punt.


Syracuse's defense would not allow a touchdown in their redzone, so Virginia Tech would attempt and connect on a 27-yard field goal by redshirt-sophomore kicker John Love with 5:16 remaining, moving them ahead by a touchdown 31-24.


Allen would carry the ball six times on the next Orange drive, including his second leap into the end zone on the day, this also from one-yard out.


Redshirt-junior kicker Jackson Kennedy would make the extra point, tying the game at 31.


The Hokies would not push, letting the clock run down to overtime.


Syracuse got the ball first in the extra period and it took them just two plays to score, with Allen taking a shovel pass from McCord 16 yards and then barreling for another nine on his following rush attempt, making it 38-31 Orange.


Schlee would fumble the ball on Virginia Tech's overtime possession, forced by Wax and recovered by Diggs to secure the victory for Syracuse, making them officially bowl-eligible at 6-2 overall, and raising them to 3-2 in the ACC.


The Hokies move to 5-4 overall, and 3-2 in ACC play, with the Orange passing them in the ACC due to head-to-head record.

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