For 55 minutes, Syracuse’s offense looked stuck in mud. The Orange had just enough life late to make the final score look respectable, but the damage was already done in an 18-13 loss to Clemson at the JMA Wireless Dome.
That result snapped Syracuse’s brief surge after back-to-back wins over North Carolina and then-No. 19 SMU, and it put the Orange back under .500. Now Syracuse has to win two of its final three games to reach bowl eligibility.
The most glaring issue came from the quarterback spot. Steve Angeli finished 18-of-40 for 263 yards and a touchdown, but that line only tells part of the story.
Before Syracuse’s final drive, when he connected five times with Daunte Bacheyie and capped it with a 33-yard touchdown, Angeli had managed just 13 completions on 35 attempts for 189 yards with no scores. He also threw a red zone interception and lost a fumble that led directly to Clemson’s third-quarter scoop-and-score.
Angeli was off target on too many throws, including an open Justus Ross-Simmons down the sideline late in the first half, and he never looked fully in rhythm.
Syracuse did get a steady day from Ahmad Miller, who carried 20 times for 101 yards. That marked his third 100-yard game in the last four outings.
Ju’Juan Johnson, Tylik Hill and Shavane Anderson Jr. were quieter, with Johnson logging four carries for 11 yards and one catch for five yards. The Orange never found the end zone on the ground.
At receiver, the final drive gave the numbers a boost. Bacheyie turned in what was probably the best game of his young career, with most of his production coming on that last possession.
Calvin Russell III added 80 yards on five receptions, and Ross-Simmons also got over 80 yards for the first time since Sept. 12 against Cal. Umari Hatcher had a quieter afternoon with two catches for 12 yards, and his dropped deep ball on a third down in the third quarter stalled a key chance.
Up front, Syracuse’s offensive line showed a split personality. The pass protection was solid by the numbers, with a 74.9 grade from Pro Football Focus, its best since Week 1 against New Hampshire.
But the run blocking lagged behind at 50.8, one of the unit’s worst marks of the season. Clemson’s pressure played a role in both of Angeli’s turnovers, though he was only sacked three times.
The defensive front had a similar kind of day. Syracuse was excellent against the run, posting its best run-defense grade of the season at 84.0.
The Tigers still ran for 162 yards, but defensive tackle Rashard Perry stood out with an 85.6 grade. The problem came when Clemson dropped back to throw.
Syracuse posted its worst pass-rushing grade of the year at 57.3 and managed only three sacks, one quarterback hit and three hurries. After a strong showing against SMU, that was a step back for the Orange’s front.
The linebackers helped make the run defense work and also delivered Syracuse’s best tackling grade of the season at 89.3. Even so, none of the group’s individual grades climbed above 69, so it was more a collective effort than a standout performance from any one player.
In the secondary, Syracuse forced one turnover but had trouble containing Clemson through the air. The Tigers passed for 197 yards and never reached the end zone on offense, but they still created enough movement to stress the Orange.
Demetres Samuel Jr. had the roughest afternoon of the bunch, allowing six catches for 104 yards and drawing two pass interference penalties. That produced a season-worst 42.9 coverage grade.
Davien Kerr did come up with an interception of Tait Reynolds in the second quarter, his team-leading fourth pick of the season, but the big plays were too scarce overall.
Special teams had its moments and its misses. Tripp Woody went 2-for-3 on field goals, missing from 32 yards and connecting from 26 and 46.
The 46-yarder was the second-longest make of his Syracuse career. Jimmy Gregg averaged 39.2 yards on five punts, and Clemson’s Bryant Wesco Jr. muffed one in the first half, giving Syracuse a useful takeaway.
Still, the missed kick was another reminder that this phase has to clean itself up.
On the sideline, Fran Brown said he needed to put Angeli and the Orange in better positions to succeed. Syracuse did outgain Clemson and held the Tigers without an offensive touchdown, and the Orange were penalized only five times for 51 yards, which is a clear improvement from earlier in the season.
But one decision late in the first half drew plenty of attention: Syracuse did not spike the ball and instead threw short with two seconds left, drawing boos as the team headed to the locker room. NCAA rules prevent a spike with fewer than three seconds remaining, but the moment still stood out in a frustrating afternoon.
In the end, Syracuse had chances and couldn’t cash them in. That’s what will linger most from a game that offered a few bright spots, but not nearly enough.
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