Woody's Late Field Goal Gives Orange Team AmeriCU Spring Game Win
4/11/2026 8:56:00 PM | Football
Syracuse Football gave fans a first look at the 2026 roster Saturday evening as the Orange Team topped the Blue Team, 9-7, on a 50-yard field goal from Tripp Woody as time expired in the AmeriCU Spring Game at the JMA Wireless Dome.
Â
Wide receiver Umari Hatcher and linebacker Gemaus Sackie earned the offensive and defensive MVP awards, respectively. Ziyyon Bredell took home the Special Teams Award, Darien Williams earned the D.A.R.T. Award, and Gary Bryant III and Matthew Hawn were recognized with the Academic Award.
Â
The Blue Team opened with a two-minute drill, but Davien Kerr ended the drive early, snagging a deflection for an interception and returning it to the 27-yard line. Amari Odom took over for the Orange Team and moved the ball into the red zone before Chris D'Appolonia picked off a pass across the middle to keep it scoreless.
Â
Odom opened the next possession with a 65-yard connection with Elijah Moore to put the Orange on the doorstep at the 10. After the Blue Team defense held strong, Woody converted a 29-yard field goal for the first points of the game.
Â
Following a three-and-out, Danny Lauter stepped in under center for the Blue Team and found Terrell Wilfong for a 19-yard gain across the middle, but Sackie stuffed a third-down run near midfield to force a punt.
Â
Odom then connected with Wilfong again — this time a 45-yard strike along the sideline — to set up Woody's second field goal, a 43-yarder that pushed the Orange Team lead to 6-0.
Â
Zaid Lott orchestrated a long Blue Team drive into Orange territory. Shavane Anderson Jr. pushed into the red zone with a nine-yard run before Jamie Tremble recorded a tackle for loss on a fourth-and-two stop to end the threat.
Â
Rich Belin took over for the Blue Team in the fourth quarter and moved the ball quickly. Matthew Outten broke off a big run, and Belin hit Zamondre Merriweather for a 20-yard gain to reach the red zone. Malachi Coleman capped the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run, and Woody's extra point gave the Blue Team a 7-6 edge with one minute to play.
Â
Odom and the Orange Team answered. A few completions and an eight-yard run from Ahmad Miller moved the ball to the Blue Team's 27 to set up a 45-yard field goal. A false start pushed the attempt back to 50 yards, but Woody split the uprights to give the Orange Team the 9-7 win.
Â
Syracuse opens the 2026 season on September 5 against New Hampshire at the JMA Wireless Dome. Football season tickets are on sale now at cuse.com/tickets. Other home games include four ACC contests with SMU, California, Clemson and Louisville all set to visit the Dome in 2026 before wrapping up the home slate with Notre Dame.
