Syracuse’s 21-18 loss to Cal was defined by the obvious stuff: Steve Angeli’s rough night, a pile of penalties and Tripp Woody’s two missed field goals. But there was more tucked inside the defeat, including a promising outing from Daunte Bacheyie, a heavy workload for Chris D’Appolonia and another glimpse of how dangerous Syracuse’s return game can be when it actually gets to count.
Bacheyie gave the Orange a needed spark while the offense searched for answers. The Christian Brothers Academy graduate finished with four catches for 73 yards and a touchdown, and Fran Brown sees him as more than just a temporary fix at one spot. Brown said he recruited Bacheyie as a tight end, then shifted him to wide receiver because of his weight.
“I recruited him as a tight end, but I moved him to wide receiver because his weight. He wasn’t heavy enough at the moment (to be a tight end). But that helped him become a better route runner,” Brown said.
“So then, that way, when he goes back to tight end, he’d already have that skill set of running routes. My vision of him was to become like OG (former SU tight end Oronde Gadsden II).
On defense, there was plenty for Syracuse to feel good about despite the final score. The Orange held Cal to 249 yards and 14 points, with the Bears’ third touchdown coming on a pick-six. Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was limited to 182 passing yards, and Toledo transfer linebacker Chris D’Appolonia was right in the middle of it.
D’Appolonia led Syracuse with 11 tackles, including two for loss. He also delivered a strong block on a punt return by Davien Kerr that was wiped out by a blind-side block penalty. After the game, D’Appolonia sounded like someone already locked into the next step.
“I think it forces us to turn the page quickly [Sunday],” D’Appolonia said. “We’re going to get in.
We’re obviously going to learn from this game and review the tape. But you’re down two days when you’re playing on a Thursday, so we’re going to review this tape quickly and then we’re moving on to Pitt and moving on from there.”
The special teams return game may have been the most frustrating part of the afternoon. Kerr and Demetres Samuel each had explosive punt returns erased by penalties, and Samuel’s nullified return would have been a touchdown. Syracuse has already had several big returns taken off the board by flags in its first two games.
Still, the pieces are there. Kerr and Samuel are both back there, both dangerous, and Kerr came close to adding a punt block too. He was blunt about what that tandem can be.
“We’re a dynamic build,” Kerr said of he and Samuel returning kicks.
“We both fast, both shifty. We’re gonna cause a lot of problems in the ACC.
All we gotta do is just block. No penalties.
Then we’ll be the best in the country, which we are.”
In Other News...
Syracuse Already Faces A Bigger Problem Than Its 1-1 Start
Syracuse enters a short week at 1-1, with a Thursday night trip to Pittsburgh already waiting as the next chance to steady the season. On the field, the Orange still have plenty to sort through, but the bigger backdrop around the program is harder to miss: rebuilding interest and trust with a fan base that has spent too long watching losing football.
New athletic director Bryan Blair has already tried to nudge things in the right direction with ticket discounts and other efforts to improve the gameday experience, yet attendance remains a stubborn issue. That makes the next few games carry more weight than just wins and losses, because Syracuse is still trying to prove it can give supporters a reason to come back and stay engaged through a full season. [Read more 🡒]
Justus Ross-Simmons Finally Played But Syracuse Still Has A Worry
Justus Ross-Simmons ended up in uniform for Syracuse against Cal after a wild, last-minute legal turn restored his eligibility just hours before kickoff. He had initially been ruled ineligible because of his removal from a lawsuit in Texas, but an Onondaga County judge granted a temporary restraining order that allowed him to suit up, and he responded with six catches for 105 yards in his first collegiate game in 322 days.
The larger concern for Syracuse is that the matter is far from settled. Ross-Simmons remains under review, with a hearing scheduled for September 30, which means the Orange are still waiting for a longer-term answer on a player who could matter a lot to the offense if he stays available. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse May Be Zeroing In On One Priority Recruit Out West
Ben Lees trip to AZ Compass Preps Pro Day gave Syracuse another look at one of the countrys deeper prep powers, and the Orange appear to be keeping close tabs on a program that keeps producing college-ready talent. The Chandler, Arizona school has become a national destination, and Syracuses coaching staff is said to be evaluating multiple players there as it continues to build its board out West.
Among the names drawing attention is 2028 four-star guard Darren Ford, a prospect whose long-term upside fits the kind of recruiting work the Orange have been doing on the trail. No official scholarship offers have been confirmed yet, but the interest is notable, especially with AZ Compass Prep viewed as a strong contender for the upcoming high school national championship. [Read more 🡒]