Valiant Second-Half Push Comes Up Short

Saturday, November 18

Atlanta, Ga.

8 PM

Syracuse University

5-6 , 1-6

Georgia Tech

6-5 , 5-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Georgia Tech

11/18/2023 11:28:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Press Conference

A valiant second-half effort from Syracuse football came up just short Saturday night as the Orange dropped a 31-22 decision at Georgia Tech's Bobby Dodd Stadium.

Syracuse (5-6, 1-6 ACC) piled up 143 of its 206 rushing yards in the second half, doing so on just 21 carries. LeQuint Allen Jr. rushed for 120 yards, including a long of 23 yards. He scored twice while Dan Villari accounted for one more rushing touchdown among his 81 yards rushing.

Marlowe Wax led the Orange defense with nine tackles, including six solo stops. He added a forced fumble to his line as well. Caleb Okechukwu recovered that fumble, adding a six-yard sack to the mix as well.

Georgia Tech (6-5, 5-3 ACC) had 372 yards of total offense, balancing between 180 passing yards and 192 rushing yards. Haynes King converted two passing touchdowns while adding one on the ground.

After Georgia Tech scored on its first possession of the game from 15 yards out, the Orange drove deep into Yellow Jacket territory before a touchdown was called back on holding penalties. Brady Denaburg booted a 44-yard field goal for a 7-3 score with 70 seconds left in the first quarter.

Both teams had three-and-outs on the ensuing drives before Isaiah Johnson picked off Haynes King near midfield. Four plays later, the Orange attempted a 50-yard field goal that had the distance, but leaked just right of the uprights. Georgia Tech scored on the next drive to take a 14-3 lead at the midway point of the second quarter. The Yellow Jackets added a field goal with 13 seconds left in the half for a 17-3 advantage at the break.

Georgia Tech went up 24-3 after the opening kickoff of the second half was fumbled by the Orange. One play later, the Yellow Jackets scored from 30 yards out for a three-touchdown lead.

On the next drive, Syracuse drove 71 yards to paydirt after rushing seven times on a nine-play drive. Dan Villari set up the score with a 21-yard rush, sprawling out and landing at the 1-yard line. One play later, Villari bounced to his right and scored a 4-yard touchdown, making it a 24-10 Georgia Tech lead.

The Mob was active one play later as Marlowe Wax forced a fumble that was recovered by Caleb Okechukwu. Syracuse could not convert a first down before turning it over on a fourth and one.

With its next possession, Syracuse made it a one-touchdown game in just four plays. Allen set things up after a 53-yard punt return down to the Georgia Tech 18 yard line. Getting his second direct snap in the drive, Allen rushed up the middle near the goal line. After one attempt to score was stopped, Allen found the end zone for a 24-16 Georgia Tech advantage.

Early in the fourth quarter, Syracuse pulled back within one score of the Yellow Jackets at 24-22. Two passing plays from converted quarterback Villari, including a 12-yard completion to Damien Alford, which set up a 23-yard run for Allen. Syracuse scored as Allen punched it in from two-yards out. A failed two-point conversion kept the Orange trailing by less than a field goal.

Getting the ball back midway through the fourth quarter, Georgia Tech finished a nine-play, 75 yard drive, eating over five minutes of clock before extending its lead out to 31-22.

A costly turnover on the next Syracuse drive set Georgia Tech up deep in Orange territory. The Yellow Jackets took a final knee inside the Orange five-yard line, finishing the game 31-22.

The Orange return to the JMA Wireless Dome for one final home game next weekend, taking on Wake Forest. Game time is set for 2 p.m. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/tickets