Orange Falter at #14 North Carolina

Saturday, October 7

Chapel Hill, NC

3:30 PM

Syracuse University

4-2 , 0-2

North Carolina

5-0 , 2-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

North Carolina

10/7/2023 6:50:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Babers Press Conference Players Press Conference Notes

Syracuse football faltered on the road Saturday afternoon, dropping a 40-7 decision at No. 14 North Carolina's Kenan Stadium.

The Orange (4-2, 0-2 ACC) had 221 total yards, with 129 coming in the air from Garrett Shrader (124) and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson (5). LeQuint Allen Jr. accounted for the lone Syracuse score with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. He finished with 38 total yards on the ground. Umari Hatcher had a standout game with 85 receiving yards, including a 34-yard catch to help set up the Allen touchdown.

Justin Barron finished with a career-high 14 total tackles for the Orange, including nine solo stops, one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Terry Lockett added a pass breakup along the defensive line as well. Leon Lowery and Kevon Darton contributed a sack apiece.

No. 14 North Carolina's offense accounted for 644 total yards of offense, including 442 passing yards for the Tar Heels (5-0, 2-0 ACC). Drake Maye finished with 442 passing yards on 33 completions and three touchdowns.

Syracuse's month-long road swing continues next weekend with a trek to No. 5 Florida State. Game time will be either noon or 7:30 p.m. on ABC.

North Carolina's offense was efficient in the first half, scoring on all five possessions in the opening two quarters. After a field goal on the first drive, UNC converted three straight touchdowns before a field goal to end the second quarter with a 27-0 lead. The Tar Heels had the ball for nearly 21 minutes through the first two quarters.

On the first drive of the second half, the Orange marched 75 yards in just nine plays. Shrader and Hatcher connected for half of that yardage on one play as the latter reeled in a 34-yard catch, followed by another 13 yards on the next play. Shrader sprinted for 18 yards down to the UNC 6-yard line before back-to-back Allen rushes covered the final six yards. Allen went over the top of the Orange offensive line for the lone 'Cuse points of the day.

In the second half, Syracuse's defense limited the Tar Heels to a pair of field goals and one touchdown, allowing 220 yards in the final 30 minutes of the game. The front line of the Orange defense held North Carolina to just 24 rushing yards in the second half.

Late in the third quarter, the Syracuse defense forced the first North Carolina fumble of the entire season, recovered by Derek McDonald inside the Syracuse 20-yard line.