Kyle McCord threw for 453 yards and 5 touchdowns as No. 21 Syracuse authored an offensive masterpiece in a 52-35 win over Washington State within the Vacation Bowl on Friday in San Diego.
As a part of his stellar efficiency, McCord set the Atlantic Coast Convention single-season file for passing yards (4,779) in his first 12 months at Syracuse. The previous mark of 4,593 was set by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson in 2016.
On Friday, McCord threw two landing passes apiece to Trebor Pena and Oronde Gadsden II.
LeQuint Allen additionally caught a TD cross to go together with 120 speeding yards and two extra scores on the bottom for the Orange (10-3), who completed with 606 yards of offense.
“Kyle McCord is that man,” mentioned Allen. He is legit. He is every part you want for this system. I am unable to wait to see him on Sundays balling out.”
Zevi Eckhaus handed for 363 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions whereas including a speeding rating for Washington State (8-5).
Kyle Williams had 172 receiving yards and a rating on 10 catches to tempo the Cougars, who fought valiantly after a tumultuous month through which coach Jake Dickert bolted for Wake Forest and greater than 30 gamers entered the switch portal, together with Oklahoma-bound beginning quarterback John Mateer.
The Cougars trailed 35-21 at halftime earlier than slicing their deficit in half on Eckhaus’ 42-yard TD cross to Carlos Hernandez. Nevertheless, the Orange scored the subsequent 17 factors to win comfortably.
Late within the third quarter, McCord linked with Pena, who took a brief cross and ran down the left sideline for a 45-yard rating to make it 42-28. Allen elevated the margin to 52-28 late within the fourth with a 33-yard catch-and-run landing.
Eckhaus gave Washington State an early 7-0 lead with a 4-yard TD scramble, however the Orange answered with touchdowns on their subsequent two possessions. First, McCord hit Pena for a 19-yard TD on a back-shoulder throw, after which Allen discovered some room en path to a 12-yard scoring run.
Syracuse’s momentum did not final lengthy, nonetheless. On the Cougars’ third play of the following drive, Williams took a slant cross and break up the protection for a 66-yard landing. Shortly thereafter, Leon Neal Jr. blocked a Syracuse punt and Josh Meredith recovered for a 12-yard rating, placing Washington State forward 21-14 after one quarter.
“There have been lots of questions requested about what crew would present up,” mentioned Washington State interim coach Pete Kaligis. “…I will take (all of the blame for the loss), as a result of they fought. They fought, and I am so happy with them. I am so happy with them.”
The second quarter was action-packed as effectively — no less than for the Syracuse offense. The Orange outscored the Cougars 21-0 within the interval, highlighted by two landing passes from McCord to Gadsden.
In all, Syracuse racked up 364 yards within the first half en path to a 14-point lead on the break.
–Area Degree Media