SYRACUSE, New York — Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord torched the UConn football team on Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome, as the Orange held off the Huskies 31-24.
McCord, the transfer from Ohio State, threw for a season high 470 yards and two touchdowns through the air while completing 37 of his 47 passes. For good measure, he added another touchdown on the ground.
UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano, who started over a reportedly healthy Nick Evers, did his best to keep the Huskies in the game. Fagnano finished the day with 228 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 27 of his 48 attempts.
UConn receiver Skyler Bell eclipsed 100 yards of receiving again, catching 10 passes for 113. Syracuse receiver Darrell Gill Jr. stole the show, however, with 177 receiving yards on nine catches.
A game dominated by long drives started off with a bang, as McCord connected with Gill Jr. for 53 yards on the first play. On the second play, the Orange reached the endzone after McCord reached Orande Gadsden II on a 22-yard touchdown throw. The drive took only 50 seconds.
After a quick punt by UConn, Syracuse marched down the field again. It looked like it might be a long day for the Huskies until the defense stood strong and Orange kicker Jackson Kennedy missed a 36-yard field goal attempt.
UConn received the ball back and almost immediately faced fourth down and short deep in its own territory. Head coach Jim Mora took the risk and went for it, which paid off tremendously when running back Cam Edwards escaped the pile and ran 71 yards for a touchdown, tying the game 7-7.
Edwards finished the game with 87 yards on eight carries, leading the Huskies.
Syracuse responded with a 12-play, 77-yard drive of its own, taking the lead back when McCord reached wide receiver Trebor Pena for a five-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter.
The teams traded punts on the next three possessions, but that changed when the Orange embarked on another long drive. During Syracuse’s 14-play drive, the Huskies allowed a backbreaking conversion on third and 15. The Orange capped off the 68-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown by running back LeQuint Allen, giving Syracuse a 21-7 lead with 3:17 left in the second quarter.
UConn answered in a strong way with a 10-play, 75-yard drive of its own as time wound down before the half. Fagnano connected with Bell for big pickups on back-to-back plays, the first for 30 yards and the second for 15 to advance the ball deep into Orange territory. With 32 seconds left in the quarter, Fagnano reached tight end Louis Hansen on a five-yard touchdown pass.
Syracuse missed another field goal attempt as time ran out in the second quarter, and the Huskies trailed Syracuse 21-14 at the break.
The first three possessions of the second half amounted to very little, as UConn punted twice, and Syracuse turned the ball over on downs. A Syracuse field goal with 4:35 remaining in the third quarter put Syracuse up 24-14.
After the teams traded punts, UConn started in Syracuse territory. After gaining one first down, UConn had to settle for a 42-yard field goal from kicker Chris Freeman, bringing the Huskies within seven points of the Orange.
Just as the UConn defense seemed to have gained momentum, it let its foot off the gas, and Syracuse marched down the field on a 10-play, 73-yard drive. McCord snuck the ball into the end zone from a yard out to score a touchdown that put Syracuse up 31-17 with 10:09 remaining. It would be the difference in the game.
After the Huskies turned the ball over on downs and Syracuse punted, UConn had one last opportunity to put points on the board.
Led by Fagnano, the Huskies drove the ball 89 yards on 15 plays and scored with 1:29 remaining when wide receiver TJ Sheffield caught a two-yard touchdown pass.
It wouldn’t be enough.
UConn squibbed an onside kick, but Syracuse emerged from the scrum with the ball. The Orange proceeded to take a knee, running out the clock.
Syracuse won and improved to 8-3 this season. UConn fell to 7-4.
On the day, McCord threw for more yards than UConn had total offense, as the Huskies gained just 352. Syracuse also dominated the time of possession 37:26 to 22:34 and had 25 first downs compared to UConn’s 16.
The Huskies wrap up the regular season slate next week in Amherst when they face the UMass Minutemen. UConn will try again to clinch an eighth win for the first time since 2010.
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Dalton Zbierski is a digital content producer and writer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dzbierski@FOX61.com.
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