In a season full of disappointment, Saturday afternoon’s matchup against Louisville presented Syracuse with an opportunity to turn the season around. Despite losing its first five ACC games, Syracuse (4-6) could still finish the year with a record of 6-6 and qualify for a bowl in back-to-back seasons.
For the Orange, the key was to upset the Cardinals today, and hope to ride that momentum back home for a bowl-clinching matchup with Wake Forest next Saturday. Unfortunately, Syracuse could not pull off the upset over Louisville, leaving its bowl hopes behind in Kentucky.
The game began with an offensive surge from the Cardinals. It took Louisville less than five minutes to take a 7-0 advantage. QB Micale Cunningham found TE Marshon Ford on a crossing route out of the backfield and gave the Cards a lead they would never relinquish.
The ‘Cuse offense looked strong out of the gate as well. Following Louisville’s opening touchdown, Syracuse took just 2:23 to get into the red zone before settling for a field goal.
Then the Orange forced a three and out on defense. Syracuse looked to be in a position to swing momentum and take control of this game. However, WR/PR Sean Riley muffed the punt, giving Louisville the ball at the 29-yard line of Syracuse. Cunningham needed one play to find WR Seth Dawkins for the second Cardinal touchdown, 14-3.
Louisville continued to dominate with a third touchdown in the final minutes of the first quarter. Cunningham burst around the left side of the Syracuse lined, breaking a couple of tackles as he fell into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game.
The second quarter was mostly uneventful. Syracuse mounted a 16 play, 75-yard drive to score its first touchdown of the game. QB Tommy DeVito connected with TE Aaron Hackett for Hackett’s sixth touchdown this season. The Orange inched closer with the score now 21-10.
It appeared as if Syracuse may be able to hold the deficit at 11 points with Louisville starting a drive at its own 6-yard line and less than four minutes on the clock.
After a four-yard run to start the drive, Micale Cunningham unloaded a deep ball and connected with WR Tutu Atwell in stride at midfield for a 90-yard touchdown pass. Atwell was a problem for the Syracuse secondary all game. The 5’9 Sophomore had five catches for 152 yards and one touchdown.
Syracuse returned to the locker room at halftime down 28-10. Bowl hopes for the Orange were in serious jeopardy, and a major turnaround was needed.
That turnaround would not come. The second half provided much of the same for Syracuse. K Andre Szmyt kicked a field goal to begin the third quarter, cutting the lead to 28-13.
Syracuse gave up a 70-yard kick return to Louisville RB Hassan Hall on the next play, setting up a one-play touchdown drive. Cunningham found TE Jordan Davis for a 28-yard touchdown pass to extend Louisville’s lead to 35-13.
The Orange and Cardinals traded touchdowns the rest of the third quarter, with the teams combining for six drives in a row with a TD scored. Syracuse scored 17 points in the third quarter but surrendered 21.
The last chance for Syracuse to save its season came early in the fourth quarter. DeVito threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to WR Trishton Jackson with 13:16 left in the game. The score was now 49-34.
Micale Cunningham got the ball at the Louisville 31-yard line to start the drive and floated a pass to the right side towards Tutu Atwell in the flat. S Andre Cisco dove in front of Atwell, intercepting the pass for Syracuse and giving the Orange great field position down two scores.
Starting from the Louisville 29-yard line, Syracuse gained one yard on four offensive players, turning it over on downs. Then the defense came up with consecutive stops for the first time all season.
Syracuse got the ball again with 9:29 left on its own 16-yard line. Dino Babers went to backup QB Clayton Welch and he threw an 81-yard pass to WR Jawhar Jordan on his first play. Syracuse was not able to convert once again as a series of penalties nearly pushed the Orange out of the red zone.
Louisville capped it off with Micale Cunningham’s fifth touchdown pass, extending the lead to 56-34, and ending the game.
Although Syracuse was dominated, Tommy DeVito and the offense played well. DeVito completed 67% of his passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. RB Mo Neal rushed for a 45-yard touchdown in the third quarter and finished the game with 163 yards and one touchdown.
The Syracuse defense, however, could not stop the potent running combination of QB Micale Cunningham and RB Javian Hawkins. Cunningham had a career day, recording 298 total yards and six touchdowns (five throwing, one passing) while only turning the ball over once. The Freshman Hawkins ran for a career-high 233 yards and one touchdown.
Syracuse is back in action next Saturday when Wake Forest comes to the Dome for the final game of the season. Coverage begins on WAER at noon.