Orange Down Pack in Road Victory

Saturday, October 12

Raleigh, NC

8 PM

Syracuse University

5-1 , 2-1

NC State

3-4 , 0-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

NC State

Coach Will Hicks gets the game ball from head coach Fran Brown

10/12/2024 9:25:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Brown on ACC Huddle McCord on ACC Huddle Coach Fran Press Conference Players Press Confernce Notes Photo Gallery

The Syracuse defense notched three takeaways, while Kyle McCord threw for 300+ yards in his sixth-straight game to defeat NC State, 24-17, on Saturday night in Raleigh.

The win moved the Orange to 5-1 (2-1 ACC) through the first half of the season and marked back-to-back 'Cuse road victories for the first time in 12 years. McCord's night moved him to sixth on the program's single-season passing touchdowns list and tied the single-season record for most 300+ yard passing games, which he now shares with Ryan Nassib (2012).

McCord completed 74-percent of his passes on the day (31-of-42), for 342 yards and a pair of touchdown passes. Jackson Meeks was the recipient of 11 of those completions, none bigger than his touchdown grab on a fourth-and-goal play with 10:26 remaining in regulation. The play proved to be the game-winner for Syracuse, and Meeks finished the evening with a new career high in catches.

McCord completed throws to seven different receivers in the game. Trebor Pena chipped in with eight catches and Oronde Gadsden II grabbed six passes. Umari Hatcher took his lone catch for a 28-yard touchdown catch.

The Orange found the red zone on each of its first-three possessions, but one Jadyn Oh field goal on the opening series proved to be the only points late into the second quarter. Oh's 32 yarder was a new career best.

That changed when McCord found Hatcher on a deep ball down the sideline, which Hatcher hauled in to give the Orange a 10-0 lead. The scoring drive was setup by the first of three Orange takeaways. Derek McDonald stripped Kendrick Raphael for a fumble that was recovered by Justin Barron.

The Wolfpack answered on the ensuing drive, which was extended by an illegal formation call on the Orange defense for a would-be field goal attempt. CJ Bailey found Justin Joly on a 14-yard pass with 31 seconds remaining before halftime.

NC State received the second-half kick, but the 'Cuse defense came up big again. Devin Grant's strip sack of Bailey returned the ball to SU, who would march 73 yards for their second touchdown of the night. This time, LeQuint Allen bulldozed his way in from four yards out. Allen finished with 91 yards on 21 carries and added a pair of catches for 28 yards.

Barron was around the ball at the right time again on the next possession. A Bailey attempt went off the hands of Raphael and Barron came up with the interception, which he returned 41 yards to the NC State 38-yard line. Meeks was the beneficiary of McCord's second TD on the pivotal fourth-down play, opening up a 24-7 lead for the visitors. Barron led the unit with eight total tackles, including five solo stops. Safety Duce Chesnut and McDonald each had seven stops.

NC State attempted to claw back into it. Just 49 seconds after Meeks' score. Bailey connected with Noah Rogers on a 75-yard strike. The Wolfpack added a late field goal with 1:32 remaining, but Meeks came up with one more catch on the night, successfully fielding the onside kick attempt to ultimately end the game.

Syracuse continues its stretch of three straight road games continues when the Orange play at #22 Pitt (6-0) on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. That game will be on ESPN.