Syracuse University
1-10 , 1-9
Notre Dame
10-0 , 9-0
Orange Effort Falls Short at #2 Notre Dame
12/5/2020 7:13:00 PM | Football
The Orange offense posted a season-best 248 yards on the ground, led by freshman Sean Tucker and Redshirt-sophomore Cooper Lutz, who both crossed the century mark. Taj Harris, who had eight catches for 69 yards, will enter the 2021 season tied with Marvin Harrison for sixth in program history with 135 career receptions as 'Cuse put up 414 yards of total offense on the Irish.
Defensively, Ja'Had carter picked off Ian Book, only the second time the Notre Dame senior QB has been intercepted this season. Lee Kpogba and Garrett Williams led 'Cuse with eight tackles apiece, Williams also had three pass breakups. Geoff Cantin-Arku also sacked Book twice.
The Syracuse defense held Notre Dame to a field goal on the opening possession. Another strong defensive effort in the red zone for a defense that entered the game ranked third in the league in red zone defense, allowing points on just 79.5 percent of opponent possessions.
Syracuse notched the game's first touchdown following a 10-play 62-yard drive that ended on a Rex Culpepper touchdown pass to Anthony Queeley.
Culpepper to Queeley for the 18-yard touchdown to put the Orange up 7-3! 🍊🙌 pic.twitter.com/PSKFqw3Av5
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 5, 2020
But Notre Dame exploded for three scores in the final four minutes of the first half to take a 24-7 lead into the break.
After seemingly forcing a Notre Dame punt with a third-down stop, the Irish's drive was extended by a roughing the passer, which they'd convert to a score moments later on a 28-yard touchdown run by Ian Book. On the ensuing 'Cuse drive, Syracuse fumbled, which Notre Dame converted to another score. The Fighting Irish tacked on one more with six seconds to go. Each of the final two scores were Book passes to Javon McKinley.
'Cuse struck first in the second half on a 40-yard touchdown run by Sean Tucker. Tucker finished with 113-yards on the day, his third game over the century mark on the year. Joe Morris – the Orange's all-time leading rusher – is the only other Syracuse freshman to post three-or-more 100+ yard days.
40 YARDS TO THE HOUSE!@seantucker2020 pic.twitter.com/EZmKfdA6s0
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 5, 2020
Ian Book added the points right back after another 'Cuse turnover. He capped the drive on a 17-yard touchdown scramble, for his second rushing score of the day to make it 31-14. Book then hit McKinley to tack on another as the Fighting Irish took 1 38-14 lead into the fourth quarter.
Notre Dame added one more score on a 94-yard run by Chris Tyree, but Cooper Lutz struck right back with an 80-yard rush of his own for an Orange score. Lutz finished with 102 yards on the afternoon.
Cooper Lutz goes 80 yards! pic.twitter.com/PxXyNPEeR2
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) December 5, 2020
'Cuse closes the 2020 season with hope as one of the nation's youngest rosters (72-percent underclassmen) will return a year older entering the 2021 campaign.
Team Stats
SU 0, ND 3
ND - Doerer, J 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 73 yards, TOP 5:28
SU 7, ND 3
SU - Queeley, A. 18 yd pass from Culpepper, R. (Szmyt, A. kick) 10 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:07
SU 7, ND 10
ND - Book, I 28 yd run (Doerer, J kick), 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:18
SU 7, ND 17
ND - McKinley, J 21 yd pass from Book, I (Doerer, J kick) 1 plays, 21 yards, TOP 0:08
SU 7, ND 24
ND - McKinley, J 28 yd pass from Book, I (Doerer, J kick) 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 0:32
SU 14, ND 24
SU - Tucker, S. 40 yd run (Szmyt, A. kick), 5 plays, 57 yards, TOP 2:14
SU 14, ND 31
ND - Book, I 17 yd run (Doerer, J kick), 8 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:23
SU 14, ND 38
ND - McKinley, J 26 yd pass from Book, I (Doerer, J kick) 3 plays, 68 yards, TOP 1:03
SU 14, ND 45
ND - Tyree, C 94 yd run (Doerer, J kick), 2 plays, 87 yards, TOP 0:52
SU 21, ND 45
SU - Lutz, C. 80 yd run (Szmyt, A. kick), 2 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:52
