NFL
By: Rick O’Donnell
Syracuse played their first home game in more than a month when it hosted Virginia Tech, on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome. Today’s game will be a big test in bouncing back for the Orange. After a heartbreaking loss to the Pittsburgh Panthers. It was a big test for the Orange.
After deferring to the second half, Syracuse opened with a quick 3-and-out, forcing an early punt allowing the Hokies just one yard on the first drive, but would answer with one of their own. Both teams looking to play uptempo as Virginia Tech continues their no-huddle approach, but Syracuse takes them to another 3rds and 5 which is converted for a first down. Defense needs better communication as with the no-huddle, players are looking out of position. A long pass and quick rush for a 7-yard TD (Lane) puts VaTech on the board first.
Syracuse’s offense looked out of sync and another quick punt early on but a big 59-yard punt put Syracuse in a better field position on defense. Virginia Tech wouldn’t let up and went right back to the no-huddle. The run game ate Syracuse up and another big pass downfield put the Hokies back in scoring position. QB (Schlee) kept it himself and got on the board with his first TD, 14-0.
LeQuint Allen started the next series with two big plays, a big catch followed by a hard run. Trebor Pena picked up another Syracuse first down. SU tried to pick up the pace and speed involved in the open field. Good ball movement on this drive for the Orange, but the Hokies buckled down and Syracuse attempted a FG at the start of the second quarter. Kick was good (Kennedy) 14-3, Hokies. Big sack by Syracuse and the crowd gets loud! Third and long, and another big sack. Syracuse had to be glad to have senior Marlowe Wax back. A decent return by Pena and Syracuse took over near the 50-yard line.
Syracuse opened up the playbook a bit here getting Dan Villari involved behind center. Syracuse going for it on 4th down and picks up the “easy” yard for the first down. McCord took a shot at the end zone with momentum shifting, despite slight contact, he’d overthrew the receiver which would lead to an INT and touchback.
McCord needed to settle down, he wasn’t playing with the same confidence as he did to start the season. An almost interception and the Orange forced a long third down. A QB scramble would stop short and another Virginia Tech punt, but a flag is down. A face mask on the return pushes Syracuse back a bit more and it’ll be a long way to the end zone. Despite his usual sure hands, Pena drops one and Cuse will punt again, giving the Hokies good field position around mid-field.
Penalty, big reverse, penalty.
Syracuse caught a few breaks there, and a big hit popped the ball loose preventing a huge play, but the VT receiver (Gosnell) stayed down. As play resumed, Fadil Diggs with a much-needed stop to end the drive. Orange faced the length of the field for the two-minute drive.
First down Syracuse with 1:27 to go, McCord goes back to Meeks to but a drop stops the clock. Huge run by LeQuint Allen and pushed out of bounds after a 25-yard run. Syracuse clearly looking to eat up the clock, but the very next play the Orange coughed it up, and fumbled after a completion to Darrell Gill Jr.
A bit of an odd play as a botched snap would lead to an 18-yard scramble by Schlee but an official review and it comes back. Syracuse caught a break due to a knee down as Schlee picked up the ball bringing it back to the 45-yard line. Virginia Tech would end the half with a big 47-yard run that ended before he got into the end zone.
Halftime
Syracuse got the ball back to start the half, touchback. A Big run by Allen, Syracuse needed to start putting pressure on the Hokies defense but it didn’t happen after a botched snap, penalty, and a bit of trickery that didn’t convert. A change of pace was due and the Orange tried to get it going. You have to respect that.
Everything seemed rushed and thus sloppy. Defenders were giving too much room on defense but quickly swarming the football. Syracuse needed a big stop but VaTech converted as the defense couldn’t run down the QB.
At times, Syracuse was giving every ball carrier extra yards with weak tackles. The Hokies were just pushing the Orange around and the defense seemed deflated. One of the biggest problems of this team so far is taking themselves out of the game mentally after early mistakes. Another big pass keeps the ball moving. Touchdown pass (Schlee>Jennings).
Syracuse’s offense was back on the field and taking a play out of the Hokies book with an uptempo. Pass interference moves the chains. Offsides would move them back. Orande Gadsden Jr gets on the stat sheet with a big catch followed by a wide-open Ross-Simmons for a 55-yard TD, 21-10 after a 75-yard drive.
After the kickoff, a dropped pass and swarmed run by Syracuse’s defense led to a 3rd-and-long. The Loud House coming alive and the pass is overthrown, Syracuse would get the ball back on a decent return (Pena), and Orange football at their 44. A quick pass and big run would make it 3rd and 1 and McCord took it himself for the first.
Trebor Pena with the HUGE catch and run for 41 yards and Orange are in the red zone. The first play was a rush by Allen initially called short and overturned. Syracuse went for two and converted 21-18. Syracuse would force a third down but the defense couldn’t track down Schlee and he’d stretch for a first. FUMBLE! You can tell the momentum has shifted. Syracuse takes over on the Hokies’ 39 line.
A short pickup, and a rushed throw set up 3rd and long, and the Orange converted to end the 3rd quarter. LeQuint Allen with no gain from the 31. Quick shot over the middle and Ross-Simmons takes it in again for the Syracuse lead. A blocked extra point and Syracuse is up 24-21
A big run by Schlee started the next drive but Virginia Tech is looking to slow down the pace. With the energy in Syracuse’s favor, it made sense to settle down the crowd. The 13-yard gain was followed by a big pickup of 12 on a run (Thomas). The pass was caught 6 and then punched away but out of bounds and an injury on the following play to QB Collin Schlee would stop the game. A crafty run by (Thomas)VaTech would put them back up 28-24.
Terrible blocking would blow up the next third-down drive by Syracuse and a sack set up a punt. Kick catch interference and those mental mistakes worked their way back in and momentum started to shift back to the Hokies. A few quick rushes and missed tackles, if Virginia Tech scores it may be hard to come back from. A hit in the backfield but Thomas rushes ahead for the first down. Schlee to Gosnell for a 14-yard pickup, but Syracuse buckles down and forces a FG, Virginia Tech up 31-24.
Next drive, run, run, pass. First down Syracuse but a penalty for unsportsmanlike on Allen. Illegal hands to the face by the Hokies and it’s was a first down. Syracuse used a heavy dose of LeQuint Allen to get the ball to mid-field. Empty backfield pass to Gadsden II. Then a 14-yard run by Allen on a much-needed third down conversion. McCord led the receiver a bit much but a DPI was called on the Hokies. Trebor Pena with a catch down to the two-yard line. Allen dives the pile, and Syracuse takes it into the end zone, the ball game at 31 on another 75-yard drive.
OVERTIME
Virginia Tech wins the toss and elects defense. Big pick-up by Allen on a toss for 16 yards. First and goal to go. Another run by Allen this time for a Cuse TD. 37-31. Despite an offsides by Virginia Tech, XPT is good, 38-31.
Virginia Tech football and they call it the Loud House for a reason. DPI on the first play gets the boo birds out. A little trickery from VaTech but a good stop. Holding by the offense. A fumble ends the game!
One thing is for sure, if Syracuse can ever figure out how to cut the costly mistakes and win the mental game, there’s no reason the Fran Brown Era can’t have a bright future. Not every play is going to go your way, it’s how you recover that matters, and the second half proved it. The Orange just need to figure out how to slow the game down in their heads, and they’ll have success.
Gameday History:
Saturday’s game was the 21st all-time meeting between Syracuse and Virginia Tech.
The Orange have won four of the last six against the Hokies and own an 11-9 advantage in the series.
Syracuse and Virginia Tech met every year from 1992-2003 when both were members of The BIG EAST Conference.
After meeting just once in the Orange’s first eight years in the ACC, the teams will square off for the third time since 2021
The Hokies played their first game at JMA Wireless Dome and haven’t played in Syracuse since 2016 when it was still the Carrier Dome.
Next up is a road trip against Boston College on Nov. 9th.
