Syracuse had this one in its hands, then let it slip away piece by piece.
The Orange jumped to a 12-0 lead at the JMA Wireless Dome, but Cal kept hanging around and eventually walked out with a 21-18 win in Syracuse’s ACC opener. After the 66-3 blowout of New Hampshire in Week 1, this was a far rougher reality check for the Orange, who are now 1-1. Cal is also 1-1.
The biggest swing came after Syracuse’s early cushion. Cal erased the deficit and grabbed a 14-12 lead in the third quarter, only for Syracuse to answer and go back in front 18-14.
But the Orange couldn’t finish the job from there. They failed on a two-point conversion that would have pushed the lead to 20-14, then watched Cal score again to go up 21-18.
Syracuse still had chances late. It missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, including one with about three minutes left that would have tied the game.
Quarterback Kyle McCord was a major part of the story. After looking sharp against New Hampshire in his first start in nearly a calendar year, he was far less precise against Cal.
He finished 24-of-49 for 306 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. One of those picks was taken back for a touchdown, and another came with Syracuse driving in the final minute.
The Orange also took a hit at running back. Tylik Hill ripped off 55 yards on his second carry of the day, then exited after pulling up lame just short of the end zone. He finished with only two carries for 56 yards.
That opened the door for the rest of the backfield. LSU transfer Ju’juan Johnson, who did not play in Week 1, got his first real action and handled 15 carries for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Shavane Anderson Jr., the ACC Rookie of the Week in Week 1, had nine carries for 18 yards. Jackson State transfer Ahmad Miller also got a look, finishing with two carries for two yards.
There was good news at receiver. Justus Ross-Simmons was ruled eligible after battling this offseason for a fifth-year of eligibility, and he made his presence felt right away.
He caught five passes for 82 yards, including a 25-yard grab. Umari Hatcher was right there with him, finishing with six catches for 77 yards.
Freshman Calvin Russell III warmed up for the game but did not play while recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in spring ball.
Special teams added to Syracuse’s frustration. The Orange had a punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty, and the two missed field goals in the fourth quarter loomed even larger when the final margin settled at three.
The penalty count was ugly, too. Syracuse was flagged 15 times for 132 yards, a number head coach Fran Brown will not accept.
The raw numbers make the loss sting even more. Syracuse had 27 first downs to Cal’s 16, finished 8-of-17 combined on third and fourth down while Cal was 3-of-13, and piled up 436 yards of offense to Cal’s 249. But the turnovers and penalties were the difference, and they turned a game Syracuse had led into a loss it never should have let get away.
The Orange are back on Thursday night at Pitt for their first road game of the season.
In Other News...
Syracuse Turns Cal Weekend Into Another Big Recruiting Test
Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome is shaping up to be about more than Syracuses matchup with California. The Orange have lined up another recruiting-heavy weekend, with a sizeable group of high school prospects expected in the building to watch the game and get a closer look at the program in person. For a staff trying to keep momentum going on the trail, these are the kinds of home weekends that can matter just as much as what happens on the field.
The list of visitors includes players from multiple graduating classes and across several positions, along with recruits who already have verbal ties to Syracuse as well as others still sorting through offers and interest. In that sense, the Cal game becomes a live evaluation day for the Orange, a chance to sell atmosphere, access and fit while also keeping an eye on where some of those discussions may be heading next. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuses ACC Opener Is Testing One Big Orange Offensive Question
Syracuse opened ACC play against California with an early lead in the second quarter, and the first-half script had already offered a little bit of everything. The Orange leaned on some aggressive special teams work, including a successful fake punt, and got a big burst from Tylik Hill on a 55-yard run, even as the passing game worked through a shaky start.
The bigger sideline storyline, though, was the status of a few key receivers. Five-star freshman Calvin Russell III was dressed, but Syracuse had not made clear whether he had been cleared to play or would actually see the field, while Justus Ross-Simmons was active on the sideline in uniform and his helmet, a sign he could be nearing a return. California, meanwhile, was also dealing with absences of its own, including Carter Vargas and Justin Beadles, leaving both sides to navigate an opener already carrying some early-season uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Syracuse Let A Winnable ACC Opener Slip Away Late
Syracuse had its chances in Saturdays Atlantic Coast Conference opener, but a game that felt there for the taking slipped away late in a 21-18 loss to California. The Orange never trailed by much, and with a steady defensive effort keeping them within reach, they were still in position to force the issue in the closing minutes after California had gotten a first league victory under new coach Tosh Lupoi.
The missed opportunity stung because Syracuse kept putting itself in range, only to leave points on the field when it mattered most. California leaned on Jaron-Keawe Sagapoluteles two touchdown passes and a disruptive night from Kingston Lopa, whose three interceptions helped swing the game, including the kind of play that turned a close conference opener into a frustrating finish for Syracuse. [Read more 🡒]