Published Sep 28, 2024
Syracuse tops Holy Cross, 42-14, in uneven performance
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Jim Stechschulte  •  The Juice Online
Associate Editor/Columnist
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After the game-opening three-and-out through the subsequent 93-yard touchdown drive, Syracuse controlled the scoreboard in their matchup with Holy Cross, leaving the JMA Wireless Dome with a 42-14 victory. The actual game was a lot different, as the Orange (3-1) made plenty of mistakes, including three missed field goals and two interceptions, to let the Crusaders (1-4) hang around until the fourth quarter.

Everything was great for SU early, as Kyle McCord directed a lethal offense in the opening minutes. McCord capped the first drive by looping out of the pocket and floating a pass to Umari Hatcher, who slid underneath the ball for a 7-yard touchdown.

The game film was almost on a loop, as the Orange defense forced another quick punt and the offense marched for another score, this time when McCord connected with Darrell Gill Jr. on a 23-yard scoring pass. Brady Denaburg tacked on his second extra point for a 14-0 lead with just under ten minutes elapsed

On the first play of the second quarter, McCord found a streaking Jackson Meeks on the right sideline for a 38-yard touchdown and a 21-0 lead.

Holy Cross did not just go away, piling up 149 yards on their next two possessions, lighting up the SU defense with a 63-yard touchdown pass and a 27-yard halfback pass for a second score. That trick play and extra point pulled the guests within 21-14 with 6:45 left in the first half.

Syracuse righted the ship just before halftime, using their two-minute offense to go on a 54-yard scoring drive. This time, McCord capped the march by connecting with Trebor Pena on a four-yard touchdown pass. Denaburg’s conversion gave the Orange a 28-14 lead that held to halftime after the Orange defense forced a punt, but McCord threw an interception on the final play.

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SU’s offense was thwarted thrice in the third quarter, suffering fruitless drives due to McCord’s second pick and Denaburg missing two field goals. The first, a 28-yard attempt from the left side, stayed outside the left upright after it was deflected and the second, a 45-yard try from the left hash, never had a chance.

After the defense stuffed a Holy Cross fourth down conversion and gave the offense a short field, it took three plays to score when LeQuint Allen soared over some traffic as the clock expired for a one-yard touchdown run. Jayden Oh replaced Denaburg for the extra point and sent Syracuse to the fourth with a 35-14 lead in hand.

The kicking game was not solved by the personnel move, though. On the next Orange possession, Oh missed a 41-yard field goal from the right hash when he put it off the right upright.

Oh got a chance to partially redeem himself shortly after, though, as Jayden Bellamy cut in front of a Holy Cross receiver for an interception and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. The Orange stretched the lead to 42-14 on Oh’s extra point.

Kyle McCord had another big statistical day, completing 28-of-50 passes for 385 yards with four first half touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Jackson Meeks had a career day, piling up 161 yards and a score on ten receptions. LeQuint Allen had a strong all-around game, rushing 16 times for 81 yards and picking up 54 more yards on seven catches.

Jayden Bellamy’s second career pick-six covered 33 yards for the biggest defensive highlight and helped offset two other near-interceptions he had earlier in the game. KingJoseph Edwards made a splash late in the game, piling up three sacks in the fourth quarter, while Maraad Watson had a sack, as well.

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