’Cuse Tops Ohio for First Win of Fran Brown Era
8/31/2024 7:15:00 PM | Football
After a quiet first quarter from the Orange (1-0), the home team came out firing, outscoring its opponent 17-3 in the second quarter, piling up 220 yards along the way.
'Cuse accumulated 480 total yards out-gaining Ohio 354-181 in the air. The Orange also ran for 126 yards on the ground.
On the defensive end, Syracuse recorded four sacks, including two from Fadil Diggs, 10 tackles for loss, one interception, and forced one fumble. The Orange did not allow a passing touchdown.
Quarterback Kyle McCord was huge in his 'Cuse debut, throwing for career a high 354 yards and another career-best four touchdowns. The touchdown mark was one shy of tying the program's single-game record. Three players in SU history have notched five in a game, most recently Eric Dungey (2018).
Oronde Gadsden II led the way in receiving yards for the Orange, catching seven passes from McCord for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Trebor Pena accounted for three scores, two in the air and one on the ground, his first non-special teams points with the Orange. He was second on the squad with 78 yards receiving.
On the ground, LeQuint Allen rushed for 98 yards on 15 carries, as he continues to move himself up the Syracuse all-time career rushing list, surpassing Harold Gayden, who compiled 1,378 yards through his career. Allen added a one-handed touchdown grab to get himself in the scoring column.
The Orange opened the 2024 campaign on the defensive side of the ball after winning the coin toss and electing to defer. After picking up four first downs, the Bobcats (0-1) made their way to the 'Cuse 21-yard line. Late in the drive, Marlowe Wax forced a fumble but the Bobcats kept possession, setting up a 35-yard field goal on the next play.
Syracuse's first drive of the game started on its own 23-yard line, but the home team could not convert on its first set of downs, giving the Bobcats the ball back for a second possession. Defenders Kevin Jobity Jr. and Denis Jaquez Jr. combined for a sack on third down that forced Ohio into its second three points of the game.
Syracuse scored its first points of the season on its second possession of the contest on an eight play, 75-yard drive. After picking up a first down on back-to-back three-yard runs by Allen and a short pass by McCord to Pena, the 'Cuse quarterback ignited the offense, going right back to Pena with a 20-yard pass up the middle. Allen then snagged a 10-yard pass to put the Orange in position for a 28-yard touchdown catch from Gadsden.
Brady Denaburg added a 26-yard field goal on the following Syracuse possession, giving the Orange a 10-6 edge. After Ohio pulled back within one on a 20-yard field goal, 'Cuse put together an eight-play, 75-yard drive with 49 seconds left in the half that ended in a McCord-to-Pena 20-yard touchdown, the first receiving touchdown of his career. After a converting the PAT, the Orange took a 17-9 halftime lead.
Ohio wasted no time coming out of the break, forcing 'Cuse into a three-and-out that led to a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a 13-yard rushing touchdown for the Bobcats.
Allen, who was limited to 18 yards in the first half, responded to the Bobcat's touchdown in a big way, collecting 52 yards on the ground and a five-yard touchdown catch on the ensuing possession.
On the next Bobcat drive, defensive lineman Fadil Diggs got his first, dropping Ohio for a six-yard loss. A failed a third-and-16 chance fell short, leading to the Orange getting the ball back.
McCord did not waste the opportunity to give 'Cuse a two-possession edge, sending a deep ball to Jackson Meeks that covered 35-yards. Allen added 15 yards on the ground on the next play, and McCord finished the drive off, tossing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Pena for his fourth score of the contest and putting Syracuse up, 31-16.
Pena extended Syracuse's led to 38-16 at the beginning of the final frame, sneaking into the end zone on a fourth-and-one attempt for the first rushing touchdown of his career. The drive, that was started by a 42-yard long ball from McCord to Zeed Haynes, spanned 68 yards on eight plays as the Orange kept piling on the offense in the second half.
The Bobcats looked to decrease their deficit, scoring a touchdown to bring the score to 38-22. James Heard Jr. pulled in his first-career interception for the Orange on Ohio's following possession to stop the visitors from further damage.
The rest of the contest did not see scores on either side as the Orange went on the earn their first win of the 2024 season.
'Cuse continues its homestand next week for the conference opener. Syracuse will host Georgia Tech on Sept. 7at Noon. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets.
Team Stats

OHI 3, SYR 0
OHI - Spetic,Gianni 35 yd field goal 13 plays, 57 yards, TOP 06:27

OHI 6, SYR 0
OHI - Spetic,Gianni 37 yd field goal 12 plays, 54 yards, TOP 07:24

OHI 6, SYR 7
SYR - Gadsden II,Oronde 28 yd pass from McCord,Kyle (Denaburg,Brady kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:43

OHI 6, SYR 10
SYR - Denaburg,Brady 26 yd field goal 17 plays, 73 yards, TOP 07:01

OHI 9, SYR 10
OHI - Spetic,Gianni 20 yd field goal 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 01:13

OHI 9, SYR 17
SYR - Pena,Trebor 20 yd pass from McCord,Kyle (Denaburg,Brady kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:44

OHI 16, SYR 17
OHI - Tyus III,Anthony 13 yd run (Spetic,Gianni kick), 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:22

OHI 16, SYR 24
SYR - Allen,LeQuint 5 yd pass from McCord,Kyle (Denaburg,Brady kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:07

OHI 16, SYR 31
SYR - Pena,Trebor 14 yd pass from McCord,Kyle (Denaburg,Brady kick) 5 plays, 67 yards, TOP 01:57

OHI 16, SYR 38
SYR - Pena,Trebor 1 yd run (Denaburg,Brady kick), 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 03:16

OHI 22, SYR 38
OHI - Tyus III,Anthony 46 yd run (), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:08