Orange Take Down #25 UNLV in OT

Friday, October 4

Las Vegas, NV

9 PM (6 PM PDT)

Syracuse University

4-1 , 1-1

UNLV

4-1 , 1-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

UNLV

10/4/2024 9:06:00 PM | Football

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Junior running back LeQuint Allen Jr. caught two touchdown passes and ran for two more, including the game winner, and Syracuse (4-1) defeated No. 25 UNLV (4-1), 44-41, in overtime on Friday night.

The win was the second ranked win of the young season for the Orange, marking the first time since 2001 that a Syracuse team has defeated multiple ranked teams in the regular season. It was also the first road win over a top-25 team since the 2010 team bested then No. 20 West Virginia.

Trap Takeover: Overtime Edition‼️🍊🎯 pic.twitter.com/vll8lXrhQk
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) October 5, 2024

'Cuse trailed by seven points late in the fourth quarter and notched the tying score with just 23 seconds remaining on an endzone fade completion by Kyle McCord to Jackson Meeks. The play was setup by a crucial fourth-down run by Allen to keep the drive alive.

UNLV got possession first in overtime. After a Fadil Diggs sack to force a successful Caddie Crittenden 41-yard field goal, the Orange offense marched to the endzone and game-winning rush by Allen to leave Las Vegas with a win.

LeQuint would not be denied! 😤🎯 pic.twitter.com/66ZjFQb8LF
— Syracuse Football (@CuseFootball) October 5, 2024

Allen ran 19 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns and caught a career best nine passes for 58 yards and two scores. He moved into sixth all-time on the program's receiving yards by a running back ledger (553), passing Walter Reyes (550).

McCord, who passed for more than 300 yards in the fifth consecutive game, completed a career-high 40-of-63 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. McCord's 42 completions represented the third-best total in Orange history, trailing only Ryan Nassib (45 vs. Northwestern, 2012) and Zack Mahoney (43 at Pittsburgh 2016).

Tight end Oronde Gadsden II finished with a career-high 10 receptions and 142 yards. He set new Syracuse records for career receptions by a tight end (94) and career receiving yards by a tight end (1,395). The previous marks were held by Nick Provo (92, 2008-11) Chris Gedney (1,334, 1989-92), respectively.

The Orange offense jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter on the back of an accurate passing attack. McCord completed his first 11 throws of the contest. On the opening series, he drove the Orange 75 yards in nine plays on an opening drive capped by a nine-yard touchdown pass to Allen Jr.

Syracuse put together a second consecutive nine-play scoring march on its next possession. Keyed by a 39-yard pass play from McCord to Gadsden II, the Orange covered 87 yards with Allen finishing things with a three-yard plunge.

UNLV responded to its early two-touchdown deficit by producing 21 unanswered points. A 42-yard run by Jai'Den Thomas, enhanced by a face-mask penalty on the Orange, gave the Rebels first-and-goal on five-yard line. Two plays later, senior quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams teamed with junior tight end Kaleo Ballungay on a five-yard touchdown pass to get UNLV on the board.

Williams evened the score quickly the next time the Rebels went on offense. He connected with Ricky White III for 53 yards and ran the final three yards on the two-play sequence. The Rebel defense forced the Orange into punt formation for the third straight possession and the UNLV special teams pressure forced Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse to scramble. The result was a 13-yard loss and gave the hosts the ball on the Syracuse nine. Williams found Casey Cain in the end zone for a nine-yard touchdown play and in a matter of nine minutes the Rebels went from trailing 14-0 to leading 21-14.

Syracuse engineered a 16-play, 72-yard march that ended in a 21-yard field goal by redshirt freshman Jadyn Oh, his first at Syracuse. McCord's 15-yard pass to Gadsden and a 14-yard gainer to Allen were the big gains on the drive and Syracuse went into the intermission trailing, 21-17.

The third quarter started in a similar manner to the opening period with the Orange retaking the lead with back-to-back touchdowns. Syracuse drove 75 yards in 12 plays and McCord thread the needle on a sideline pass that Allen Jr. carried into the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. Freshman Yasin Willis helped set up the score with a 26-yard run that put the Orange at first-and-goal.

The Orange defense set up the next score. back Duce Chesnut picked off a deflected UNLV screen pass deep in Rebel territory. On the next play, Willis ran 21 yards for his first collegiate touchdown.

Willis' score was the first of his career and his 62 yards on the ground set a new career high.

Chittenden narrowed the score to 31-24 with a 20-yard field goal and the UNLV punt coverage unit helped even things up. Facing fourth down at the UNLV 49, Syracuse had its punt blocked by White III blocked and Charles Correa recovered the ball in the end zone. Chittenden's extra point had things tied up at 31-31.
Syracuse put itself in position to take the lead on its next possession. The Orange moved 68 yards on 13 plays while taking 7:19 off the clock. Facing third-and-eight at the UNLV 16, McCord had his throw intercepted by Jackson Woodard at the five-yard line.

Taking over at its own six-yard-line with 8:05 left in regulation, UNLV took 10 plays to move in front again. Williams teamed with White III on a nine-yard touchdown pass and the Rebels led, 38-31, with 2:58 remaining.

The Orange weren't finished. Syracuse raced 75 yards in 11 plays and Jackson Meeks hauled in McCord's six-yard pass in the end zone with 23 ticks left on the clock. McCord had a 17-yard completion to Gadsden II and 18 yards to Meeks on the drive. Oh's point after created the third tie of the night, 38-38, and resulted in the game going into overtime.

Allen then led the Orange to victory in the overtime period with a number of strong runs. The Orange continue a stretch of three consecutive road games with a matchup at NC State on Saturday, Oct. 12.