Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.

Following a stunning home loss to Stanford last week, Syracuse was supposed to steamroll past Holy Cross. The Orange were favored by 30.5 points, their highest margin since their 2023 season opener, where they entered as 40-point favorites against Colgate.

SU dominated the game’s early stages, getting anything it wanted offensively en route to a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. Kyle McCord diced through the Crusaders’ defense, throwing touchdowns to Umari Hatcher, Darrell Gill Jr. and Jackson Meeks.

However, the Orange (3-1, 1-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) failed to continue their dominance from that point, only outscoring Holy Cross (1-4, 0-0 Patriot League) 21-14 over the game’s final 45 minutes. While Syracuse’s defense allowed a season-low 203 yards, its offense was held back by allowing five sacks and committing costly penalties. Meanwhile, SU’s field-goal unit left points off the board, missing three field goals.

“I don’t think we’re nowhere near where we can be,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said postgame. “We just got to keep growing.”

Despite Holy Cross not picking up a first down in the opening quarter, the Crusaders answered Meeks’ receiving touchdown to begin the second. On the ensuing possession, SU’s offense quickly gained a first down on one of LeQuint Allen Jr.’s season-high seven catches. McCord then couldn’t connect with Meeks, which SU followed with a one-yard Allen Jr. run that set up third-and-9.

In an obvious pass-down situation, the Crusaders only sent four pass rushers. To McCord’s right, Holy Cross’ Carlo Crocetti had a one-on-one with Enrique Cruz Jr. Savion Washington is typically SU’s right tackle, but in what Brown said postgame was an effort to get backup linemen meaningful reps, Cruz Jr. stepped into his spot in the second quarter. Crocetti easily got around Cruz Jr. and sacked McCord, forcing a Syracuse punt.

“We probably shouldn’t have rotated guys in that early,” Brown said.

A drive later, after the Crusaders cut their deficit to 21-14, the Orange were again halted because of a sack. Amid a game where McCord attempted a career-high 50 passes, Syracuse gave Allen Jr. three straight carries and a quick swing pass to get it across midfield with just over four minutes remaining in the first half.

On McCord’s first drop back of the drive, SU’s offensive line initially held strong in protection versus the Crusaders’ four pass rushers. But Jordan Pritchard-Sewell performed a spin move to shed him free from Syracuse right guard Mark Petry and quickly took McCord down for a seven-yard loss.

McCord tossed a second-down incompletion and tried running for a first down the next play. The quarterback came up short and was tackled after gaining just six yards, forcing another punt. Jack Stonehouse pinned Holy Cross on its two-yard line, leading to a three and out. Syracuse then tacked on another touchdown with less than a minute remaining in the half, giving it a 28-14 halftime lead.

SU then received the second half’s opening kickoff, and its offense looked much like it did throughout its blistering start. Allen Jr. kick-started the offense by getting it across midfield, but a 23-yard connection from McCord to Trebor Peña put the Orange near the red zone.

Cole Ross | Digital Design Director

A play later, McCord initially didn’t have anyone open, so he rolled left. He found Hatcher for his second touchdown of the game, but it was nullified because center J’Onre Reed was nearly 10 yards upfield and flagged for an illegal man downfield penalty.

Syracuse faced first-and-15 following Reed’s penalty and opted to call a screen pass for Allen Jr. He broke free from the defense, gaining nearly 20 yards and a first down. But SU’s second big play in a row was called back because of a penalty. This time, Petry pushed Holy Cross linebacker Frankie Monte in the back, pushing the Orange back 10 yards.

SU gained 12 yards on a first-and-25 pass to backup running back Will Nixon, yet quickly faced third-and-13 after McCord couldn’t connect with Hatcher on the ensuing play. Facing pressure, McCord tried hitting Gill Jr. just beyond the first down chains. Instead, he overthrew his receiver and was picked off by Jake Jarmolowich.

SU quickly forced a Holy Cross punt, one of the Crusaders’ 10, to keep its 28-14 lead halfway in the third quarter. The Orange quickly moved the ball to Holy Cross’ eight-yard line to set up a first and goal, but stalled, leading to their first field goal attempt. Despite it being a chip shot, Brady Denaburg missed his kick to the left.

Like it did following McCord’s interception, SU’s defense quickly forced a punt to give its offense the ball back. But instead of flipping the field, Holy Cross punter Jack Norris shanked his punt seven yards, giving SU the ball on the Crusaders’ 20-yard line.

McCord fired an incomplete pass on the first play of the drive and Syracuse was quickly pushed back seven yards after Kevin Gillis beat Petry to register Holy Cross’ third sack. Following another incompletion, Syracuse was forced to attempt a 45-yard field goal. Again, Denaburg’s kick was pushed left.

Even with the Orange’s missed opportunities, Holy Cross’ offense couldn’t muster anything. After Denaburg’s second miss, the Crusaders failed to convert on a fourth-and-1 from their 36-yard line. Three plays later, the Orange found the end zone on an Allen Jr. touchdown run.

Syracuse opted to rest its starters for most of the fourth quarter, as backup quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. took over the offense. The Orange didn’t put together much, but they did attempt their third field goal four minutes into the quarter. Backup Jadyn Oh was called upon for the attempt. But like Denaburg, he also missed his kick.

“We have to be better, I have to be better. But mainly it was myself… I got to fix the special teams,” Brown said.

A Jayden Bellamy pick-six secured SU’s blowout win. Though the Orange had countless opportunities to put the game away much earlier. Costly mistakes didn’t cost them a win versus a team of Holy Cross’ caliber. But with a loaded ACC schedule looming and a matchup with No. 25 UNLV next week, similar errors could prove costly.

Published on September 29, 2024 at 11:52 pm

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon