Syracuse Edged by NC State, 24-17

Saturday, November 1

Syracuse, N.Y.

3 pm

Syracuse University

3-6 , 1-4

NC State

5-4 , 1-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

NC State

Syracuse

Photo by: Charles Wainwright

11/1/2014 6:31:00 PM | Football

Box Score

AJ Long throws for a career-high 307 yards

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The Syracuse University football team led late in the third quarter, but an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown by freshman defensive end Pharoah McKever powered NC State to a 24-17 victory on Saturday in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse falls to 3-6 on the year and 1-4 in the ACC, while NC State improves to 5-4 overall and 1-4 in conference.

Down 9-0 late in the second quarter, the Orange rattled off 14 unanswered points to take a 14-9 advantage. McKever's touchdown in the third quarter turned the tide and Syracuse ultimately never retook the lead.

For the second time in 2014 and third time in his collegiate career, senior wide receiver Jarrod West topped the 100-yard receiving mark, finishing the day with a career-high 161 yards on seven receptions. His career day moved him to eighth all-time on the Syracuse receiving list (1,746 yards).

Freshman quarterback AJ Long was 22-for-42 for a career-best 307 yards passing. It marked the first 300-yard passing game by a true freshman in program history. Long threw two touchdown passes on Saturday afternoon, which matched his personal best.

After Syracuse won the toss and deferred until the second half, NC State opened the contest with a nine-play, 52-yard drive that culminated with a 43-yard field goal from senior placekicker Niklas Sade. The Wolfpack started the game with five straight completions from junior quarterback Jacoby Brissett, moving the ball 47 yards in the first five plays.

Following two more second-quarter Sade field goals, Syracuse took over at its own 4-yard line with 3:38 remaining in the half, down by nine. The Orange went 96 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 15-yard touchdown pass from Long to junior wide receiver Ben Lewis with 15 seconds to go in the opening half to close the gap to 9-7. Long was 4-for-6 for 67 yards passing on the drive, including a 30-yard completion to West.

Syracuse carried the momentum from its late first-half touchdown into the third quarter. Freshman wide receiver Steve Ishmael hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Long to complete a 10-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half. The touchdown gave the Orange its first lead in the contest,14-9, with 11:38 to go in the period.

After an NC State punt, Syracuse was once again on the march. Deep in NC State territory, Long threw a ball over the middle that was intercepted by McKever and he took it back 82 yards for the touchdown. Brissett completed a shuffle pass to sophomore running back Matt Dayes for the two-point conversion, putting the Wolfpack ahead, 17-14, with 2:52 left in the third quarter.

Syracuse had an opportunity to slice into the deficit late in the fourth quarter, but Long fumbled on his own 35-yard line with 3:54 remaining in regulation. NC State took over and Brissett completed an 18-yard touchdown pass to junior running back Shadrach Thornton on the ensuing series to give the Wolfpack a 24-14 advantage.

On the next possession, the Orange move quickly down the field to set up a 50-yard field goal attempt for freshman placekicker Cole Murphy. Murphy connected for his second 50-yarder in as many games to cut the NC State lead to 24-17 with 17 seconds left.

Syracuse successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick, giving the team one last chance. Long launched a deep pass with seconds remaining in the contest, but it was intercepted by freshman safety Josh Jones at the NC State 8-yard line, ending any hope of last-second comeback.

The Orange returns to action on Saturday, Nov. 8 against Duke at the Carrier Dome. The home finale begin at 12:30 p.m. and will televised either on the ACC Network or RSN.