#TBT: Orange Stage Thrilling Comeback Against West Virginia

Thirty years ago, the Syracuse football team made history, finishing the regular season with an 11-0 record and earning an invitation to the Sugar Bowl where it tied Auburn. This fall, Cuse.com celebrates the 30th anniversary of that historic team each week with a recap of every contest from the 1987 campaign.

In its final game of the regular season, Syracuse hosted West Virginia in the Carrier Dome. The date was Nov. 21 and the Orange were ranked No. 6 in the nation heading into the game.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In what proved to be one of the most exciting games ever played at the Carrier Dome, Michael Owens ran in a two-point conversion to complete perhaps the most important comeback in team history, and defeat West Virginia, 32-31. The victory preserved the undefeated season and Syracuse's national title hopes.

The Orange overcame deficits of 7-0, 17-10, 24-17 and finally, 31-24 with a minute and a half to play. Orange quarterback Don McPherson completed five passes down the stretch, covering the 74 yards in 1:17. A McPherson to Pat Kelly 17-yard touchdown pass pulled the Orange to within one at 31-30. On a gutsy play call, McPherson pitched to Owens who went into the left corner of the end zone for the winning points.

Robert Drummond recorded Syracuse's first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and Owens finished the night with career highs of 72 yards rushing and 207 all-purpose yards. Kelly caught six passes for 50 yards, including the final touchdown.

"You have to give West Virginia credit, they kept coming at us," said Syracuse head coach Dick MacPherson. "I think they're still in shock, but I think they realize they played the team of destiny tonight. We're a team on a mission. This team is a great credit for Syracuse and a great credit for Central New York."

Score by Quarter	1	2	3	4	F
Syracuse	0	10	0	22	32
West Virginia	7	7	3	14	31

Scoring Summary
Team	Play	Score
WVU	Talley 45-yd pass from Harris (Baumann kick)	0-7
SU	Abraham 2-yd run (Vesling kick)	7-7
SU	Vesling 30-yd field goal	10-7
WVU	Taylor 1-yd run (Baumann kick)	10-14
WVU	Baumann 20-yd field goal	10-17
SU	Owens 65-yd pass from McPherson (Vesling kick)	17-17
WVU	Harris 3-yd run (Baumann kick)	17-24
SU	Johnston 19-yd run (Vesling kick)	24-24
WVU	Johnson 10-yd run (Baumann kick)	24-31
SU	Kelly 17-yd pass from McPherson (Owens run)	32-31

Team Stats	SU	WVU
First Downs	25	23
Rushing Yardage	247	276
Passing Yardage	246	197
Total Offense	493	473
Passes	15/28	7/15
Passes Intercepted By	1	4
Punts/Avg.	1/50.0	4/47.7
Kickoff Returns	5/136	3/61
Fumbles/Lost	3/2	3/2
Penalties/Yards	1/5	4/35

Rushing: Syracuse - Drummond 13-100, Johnston 11-76, Owens 10-72; WVU- Johnson 21-110, Harris 18-69
Passing: Syracuse - McPherson 15-28-4-246; WVU- Harris 7-15-1-197
Receiving: Syracuse - Kelly 6-50, Kane 3-58; WVU- Talley 4-113

The 2017 Orange visit Louisville this Saturday before returning to the Carrier Dome for the final game of the regular season against Boston College on Saturday, Nov. 25.

Kickoff against Boston College is the set for 12:20 p.m. on the ACC Network. Tickets to watch the Orange and Eagles start at $30 and they are available online (Cuse.com/tickets), by phone (888-DOME-TIX) and at the Carrier Dome Box Office (Gate B).

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Syracuse University Athletics

#TBT: Orange Stage Thrilling Comeback Against West Virginia

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