Orange Rally Falls Short to Clemson - Syracuse University Athletics
By Google News Sports ·
Despite a late fourth quarter rally, Syracuse was topped by Clemson, 18-13, at the JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday afternoon.
The Syracuse defense surrendered just 197 yards through the air, the fifth time this season the Orange have held an opponent to under 200 yards passing. Davien Kerr had an interception in the contest, his fourth of the season. Syracuse also did not surrender an offensive touchdown, with the Tigers' lone touchdown coming on a fumble recovery.
Syracuse (4-5, 2-5 ACC) was paced offensively by 101 yards of rushing on 20 carries by Ahmad Miller. Tight end Daunte Bacheyie led the receivers with 82 yards on six catches including a touchdown. Quarterback Steve Angeli finished 18-of-40 passing for 263 yards.
Clemson (6-3, 4-2 ACC) was led by Tait Reynolds who completed 17-of-28 passes for 161 yards. Jarvis Green and Reynolds carried the bulk of the Tigers' ground game, with 85 and 61 yards, respectively. However, 53 of Green's 85 yards came on the game's first play from scrimmage.
The Orange will now shift their focus to next week's matchup with NC State, a noon kickoff to air on ACC Network. This starts a two-game road stretch for the Orange before Syracuse returns home for the regular season finale against Notre Dame. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/FootballTickets.
Syracuse won the toss and deferred to the second half, and Clemson started fast. Green ripped off a 53-yard run on the opening play. Yet, the Orange defense bent but did not break and five plays later Nolan Hauser's 32-yard field goal made it 3-0 with 12:30 left in the first quarter.
The Orange answered with a 13-play, 67-yard drive that ate up 6:15 of clock. Angeli hit Umari Hatcher for 5 yards and Justus Ross-Simmons for 18 on the first two plays, and Miller converted a 4th-and-1 at the Clemson 43. Angeli found Calvin Russell III for 19 yards on third-and-17, and a roughing the passer penalty moved the ball to the Clemson 14. Tripp Woody's 26-yard field goal tied the game.
Clemson retook the lead on its next possession. Reynolds connected with Bryant Wesco Jr. for 53 yards to the Syracuse 22 yard-line, but the Orange defense forced two incompletions and Hauser converted from 36 yards to make it 6-3 with 4:51 left in the quarter.
Syracuse's ensuing drive stalled, but Fran Brown Jr. recovered a Wesco muffed punt at the Syracuse 40, though the Orange could not turn it into points. Miller closed the quarter with runs of 15, 8 and 4 yards to the Clemson 26.
Syracuse had a chance to tie in the second quarter, but three straight incompletions inside the Clemson 14 led to a missed 32-yard field goal by Woody. Clemson then took a shot for three points, but missed a 57-yard attempt on its next possession, and the Orange tied the game at 6-6 when Angeli found Ross-Simmons for 23 yards and Woody connected from 46 yards with 6:07 left in the half.
Clemson went back ahead before the break on an eight-play, 63-yard drive. Wesco, a wide receiver, threw a 36-yard pass to T.J. Moore to the Syracuse 8, but Keyshawn Johnson sacked Reynolds for a 7-yard loss and Hauser made a 37-yard field goal for a 9-6 lead with 2:06 on the clock. Davien Kerr intercepted Reynolds with under a minute left to give Syracuse the ball back.
A 15-yard personal foul on Skylar Harvey wiped out an 8-yard gain and pushed the Orange back to their own 37, but Angeli answered with a 30-yard completion to Russell and a 7-yard pass to Hatcher that moved the ball to the Clemson 26 as time…
Originally published by Google News Sports
