LISTEN: @CuseFootball took down @WakeFB 35-31 to become bowl eligible in consecutive years for the first time in a decade. @francescosim16 and @Jackgordon10_ were on the call. pic.twitter.com/Bi1KjTl5cs
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 25, 2023
When the season seemed over, Syracuse football (6-6, 2-6 Atlantic Coast Conference) rose above the doubt and won its last game of the regular season 35-31 over Wake Forest (4-8, 1-7 Atlantic Coast Conference) on Saturday. The Orange proved to be the definition of toughness, specifically in this matchup time and time again, however, SU tight end Dan Villari used a different word to describe his team’s ability to stay locked in.
“Resilient,” Villari responded after being asked about all the moving pieces this season. “This whole team is resilient. We (have) been through a lot. I’m just so glad we could go out there and get this win and play another game with these guys because this group is special and we’re all really close and we have a great bond.”
Another word to describe the redshirt sophomore’s performance: versatile. Villari threw for over 50 yards and recorded a touchdown pass to wide receiver Damien Alford in the third quarter. On the receiving side, the Michigan transfer also notched a touchdown. And, in case that wasn’t enough, Villari added over 50 rushing yards. The quarterback/tight end/running back hybrid did it all, on Saturday afternoon.
LISTEN: The @CuseFootball offense responded to a @WakeFB score with a 13-yard TD pass to tight end Dan Villari. @Jackgordon10_ was on the call as the redshirt sophomore secured his third touchdown in the last three contests.
— WAER Sports (@WAERSports) November 25, 2023
🎙️@waer883, https://t.co/BG0Q3sGXTn pic.twitter.com/yQmrd8zkzu
On the topic of resiliency, QB1 for Syracuse, Garrett Shrader, also embodies the term. After dealing with an injury this past offseason and then other injuries throughout this season, the senior came back in game 12 to push the Orange into bowl eligibility. Shrader threw for over 150 yards, three touchdowns, and recorded about 50 yards on the ground. The North Carolina native got emotional in his post game press conference interview when talking about his health and his team.
“I definitely had a lot of different voices in my ear, just in terms of what I should do and regarding my career,” Shrader said, getting choked up. “But there’s too many guys on this team that work too hard, but I’m grateful for them. I wanted to send these guys out the right way and a lot of these guys are beat up, but we were able to get it done so I’m happy for them.”
Syracuse relied on each other to come through with the victory. Even with personal achievements, the work done by everyone else in the SU locker room does not go unnoticed. Just ask running back LeQuint Allen how he achieved his 1,000th rushing yard of the season in Saturday’s game.
“It means the linemen came out here and did a great job, all season, not just today,” the sophomore said, after reaching the milestone. “Putting up those numbers, it shows so I’m thankful for them.”
The resiliency from the “Ohana”- a term coined by previous SU head coach Dino Babers, allowed for the Orange to come away with the win. Wake Forest nearly erased a 21-10 deficit in the third quarter, though. The Demon Deacons made it 21-17 at the end of the third to move within striking distance of the lead.
The fourth quarter was a roller coaster. Starting off, Villari caught his touchdown pass from Shrader to extend the SU lead. However, Wake Forest did not waste any time getting those points right back. In less than a minute of the game clock, the Demon Deacons opened their drive with a 59-yard spiral to WR Taylor Morin to help set up a 16-yard TD touchdown pass to wideout Jahmal Banks. WFU converted on the two-point conversion to cut the Syracuse lead down to just three. Both teams traded touchdowns, again. Then, the Demon Deacs got the ball back with about six minutes to go. Wake Forest got all the way to the SU four-yard line, but the resiliency from the Orange held strong. A sack on third down left Wake Forest no choice but to go for it. With about two minutes remaining, DB Jason Simmons Jr. came away with an interception. Syracuse went on to drain the rest of the clock.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” SU interim head coach Nunzio Campanile said after the game. “It was a really tough week and they did a great job of staying together and staying focused on the task at hand.”
Syracuse has become bowl eligible in back-to-back years for the first time since 2012 and 2013. The Orange await to hear which bowl game they will compete in to conclude the season, but in the meantime, they can celebrate the last victory from the JMA Wireless Dome of the 2023 campaign.