Syracuse, NY — Kyle McCord and Syracuse came back from a 21-0 deficit to win 42-38 on Saturday, knocking No. 6 Miami out of the Atlantic Coast Conference title race and the Hurricanes’ College Football Playoff hopes. I could have finished it.
McCord threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns for the Orange (9-3, 5-3). LeQuint Allen went for two scores and picked up two key first downs on Syracuse’s final, clock-killing drive and Devin Grant returned a fumble 56 yards for a touchdown to help the Orange beat a ranked foe for the third time this season. forced. .
Cam Ward passed for 349 yards with two touchdowns for the Hurricanes (10-2, 6-2, No. 6 CFP). The Hurricanes are scheduled to sit out next week and Clemson will have to face SMU for the ACC title and hope for the next game. At-large bid to 12-team playoffs. Miami had little trouble scoring, but opted to go for a field goal when coach Mario Cristobal refused to allow a fourth-and-goal in the 10th.
Miami had lost six straight to Syracuse before this shootout, and the two teams had combined for 983 yards of offense and 51 first downs. The Hurricanes started the season 9-0, but lost two of three at Georgia Tech three weeks ago.
McCord was 26 of 36 and became the first Syracuse quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season. His second touchdown pass to Jackson Meeks was his 27th of the season and also an Orange record.
Allen had 143 yards from scrimmage for Syracuse. He had 22 carries for 82 yards and six receptions for 61 yards. Trebor Pena had six catches for 128 yards and one touchdown, while Meeks had seven catches for 110 yards and two scores.
The game was tied at 28 when Grant forced a fumble by receiver Xavier Restrepo at the Syracuse 44. He scooped up the ball and ran down the left sideline for a score, giving the Orange a 35-28 lead with 1:47 to play. Third quarter.
Damien Martinez ran for a 2-yard TD on Miami’s next possession to tie the score at 35. Allen’s 3-yard run gave the Orange the lead, 42-35.
Restrepo had 148 yards on nine catches for the Hurricanes, while Jacolby George had six receptions for 121 yards.
Miami scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and a loss seemed possible. Midway through the first quarter, a 40-yard touchdown pass from McCord to Pena was broken up by an illegal formation penalty and appeared to deflate Syracuse.
The Hurricanes dominated the first 15 minutes, outscoring Syracuse 189 yards to 42 yards.
But the Orange rallied with two quick touchdowns in the second quarter. Allen took a handoff, bounced off a would-be tackler and kept his balance for an 8-yard TD, and McCord connected with Meeks in the left corner of the end zone from 9 yards out to make it 21-14 at halftime.
The score did not decrease even after halftime.
A 25-yard pass to Pena in the right corner of the end zone briefly tied the score at 21 with less than a minute to go in the third quarter, but the Hurricanes countered three minutes later on Mark Fletcher Jr.’s second 2-yard run. Score of the game. McCord and Meeks connected for another 9-yard TD, tying the score at 28.
Miami needs to clean up its defense, and with its struggles on that side of the ball, Cristobal will be criticized for kicking short field goals late.
The Orange, under first-year coach Fran Brown, showed tremendous determination and resilience.
Miami is waiting for a playoff berth or a bowl game. Orange awaits the ball game destination and opponent.
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