Upset Bid Falls Short Against No.1 Clemson

Saturday, November 14

Syracuse, NY

3:30 pm

Syracuse University

3-7 , 1-5

Clemson

10-0 , 7-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Clemson

Syracuse

Photo by: Charles Wainwright

11/14/2015 7:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Tigers hold off Orange, 37-27

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Orange's upset bid fell short against No. 1 Clemson (10-0, 7-0 ACC) as the Tigers managed to hold off Syracuse (3-7, 1-5 ACC) at the Carrier Dome, 37-27, on Saturday, Nov. 14. SU trailed by 14 points three different times but managed to make it a one-score game heading into the fourth quarter before succumbing to the Tigers.

The Orange rushed for 242 yards against Clemson's vaunted front seven. SU averaged 7.1 yards a carry on 34 attempts in the contest. SU's rushing total was more than twice the Tigers' defense had allowed on average coming into the game (118.9)

The Orange used misdirection as well as double- and triple-option plays to keep the Tigers off balance. Backup quarterback Zack Mahoney orchestrated the attack, rushing for 76 yards on 10 carries, including touchdown runs of 10 and 12 yards. He was also 8-of-21 passing for 80 yards.

George Morris led all Orange runners with a career-high 80 yards on 14 carries to go along with two catches for nine yards. He also made a pair of special teams tackles.

Cordell Hudson paced an SU defense that caused three Clemson turnovers and surrendered only six second-half points. Hudson matched his career high with nine tackles, including 1.0 for a loss.

The defensive unit also got sterling performances from Juwan Dowels and Ron Thompson. Dowels record a career-high seven tackles and made the first interception of his career when he picked off Clemson star Deshaun Watson in the third quarter. Thompson set a personal best with six stops. In addition, he forced and recovered a fumble that led to Syracuse's first touchdown and batted down two passes at the line of scrimmage.

The game started with a bang as the two ACC Atlantic Division rivals combined for 35 points in the opening quarter, including 21 points in the game's first 3:43. The Tigers got on the board first on Wayne Gallman's 11-yard TD run 33 seconds into the contest. Gallman's touchdown followed a 64-yard completion from Watson to Charone Peake on the first play from scrimmage.

Mahoney fumbled on Syracuse's initital offensive play and the Tigers took over at the Orange 23-yard line. Watson cashed in the turnover, scoring from three yards out at the 13:01 mark to extend the lead to 14-0.

With the Tigers primed to pull away early, the Orange defense helped right the ship by forcing turnovers on Clemson's next two possessions. Thompson stripped Kelly Bryant and recovered the ball himself at the Clemson 28. Ervin Philips punched it in on the first play after the turnover, racing untouched 23 yards for the first Orange touchdown.

On the ensuing Clemson possession, safety Antwan Cordy jarred the ball free from Hunter Renfro and Marqez Hodge pounced on it at the Syracuse 46-yard line.The Orange drove into Clemson territory, but couldn't slice into the Tigers' margin as Cole Murphy's 38-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Jayron Kearse.

Syracuse eventually tied the game at 14 later in the quarter on Mahoney's first career rushing touchdown, but the Tigers answered with a with a 10-play, 75-yard scoring drive, capped by Watson's back-shoulder throw to Peake from four yards out, to take a 21-14 advantage.

In the second quarter, Watson hit Deon Cain for a 40-yard touchdown early in the frame to push the margin back two scores. Murphy and Clemson kicker Greg Huegel exchanged field goals late in the half to make the score 31-17 Tigers at the break.

After punts by both teams on their initial second-half possessions, Mahoney led the Orange on a 97-yard scoring drive to pull SU back within a touchdown. Mahoney accounted for 87 yards on the drive (45 passing, 42 rushing), and capped the march with a 12-yard touchdown run with 6:48 left in the third.

In the fourth quarter, the teams exchanged field goals on three straight possessions with Murphy making a 24-yard attempt between Huegel connecting from 31 and 42 yards out to give the Tigers a 37-27 lead with 6:58 to go in regulation.

Clemson forced a three-and-out on Syracuse's next series, which proved to be the last time the Orange had the ball. The Tigers ran 13 plays to eat up the final 5:57 of the contest and preserve the 10-point win.

Watson accounted for 473 of Clemson's 570 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. He was 35-for-48 passing for 368 yards and two scores. He rushed 14 times for 105 yards and one touchdown. Gallman chipped in with 66 yards on the ground and a touchdown.

Peake led the Clemson receiving corps with 120 yards on seven catches, including a touchdown. Artavis Scott had 12 receptions for 73 yards.

Next, Syracuse travels to NC State on Saturday, Nov. 21 for its final road game of 2015. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Carter-Finley Stadium.

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