SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A rough passing day from Steve Angeli was highlighted by a crucial turnover and interception against a feisty Clemson Tigers defense. The defensive holds were just enough for Clemson to escape the JMA Wireless Dome with an 18-13 win over the Syracuse Orange.
The game starts auspiciously as backup Clemson running back Jarvis Green broke out a 53-yard run. He got free down the left sideline and got chased down by Demetres Samuel Jr. at the Syracuse 22-yard line. The Orange held there,
with two stuffs up the middle and excellent tackling by Samuel on third down. Clemson kicker Nolan Hauser drilled a 32-yard field goal to put the Tigers up early 3-0.
Syracuse’s first drive was a methodical drive that consisted of key third and fourth down conversions, which has been normal for the Orange during their winning streak. Syracuse converted a 4th-and-1 at midfield and Calvin Russell turned upfield after a drag route to convert a 3rd-and-17. The Orange couldn’t convert the third down in the red zone, but Tripp Woddy ended the drive with a 26-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3.
Another chunk play on the first play of the drive set up Clemson once again. This time, Tigers freshman QB Tait Reynolds unloaded on a ball deep to Bryant Wesco Jr for another 53-yard gain. However, the Orange defense once again held in field goal range. Syracuse corner Nazir Ward played great lockdown man defense against Clemson wideout T.J. Moore and prevent him from a chance on catches in the red zone. The Tigers settled for another Hauser field goal, which he easily converted from 36 yards to take the 6-3 lead.
A topsy-turvy drive ensued for the Orange. Starting right guard Jayden Mann was helped off the field with an injury on Woody’s field goal. Syracuse put in Oluwafunto Akinshilo into the game at right guard. Clemson immediately sacked and put pressure on Angeli from the right side to force a three-and-out.
However, Jimmy Gregg’s ensuing punt was short off his leg. Wesco had to run in to attempt to catch the short punt. As a result, he overran the ball and it bounced off his leg. Fran Brown Jr. came charging in and recovered the ball to give Syracuse another set of downs.
The Orange switched personnel again, bringing Byron Washington in at right guard. However, despite Calvin Russell moving the chains again, Syracuse had to punt just past midfield. Gregg’s punt this time pinned Clemson inside the 10. The Tigers subsequently went three-and-out.
Ahmad Miller started to assert his presence on the ensuing Syracuse drive, which went into the second quarter. He had three rushes for 30 yards alone on the drive to punch the Orange into the red zone. Syracuse got the ball to the Clemson 14, but three straight pass attempts from Steve Angeli stalled the drive.
What followed was another nightmare that was all too familiar for Syracuse fans. Woody’s 32-yard field goal attempt doinked off the right upright and fell short. It was the fourth missed field goal for Woody on the season. It brought Syracuse’s missed field goals up to eight on the year.
Penalties came back to almost bite the Orange again. An offsides and pass interference penalty put the Tigers into the redzone. However, a sack from Antoine Deslauries and Tunmise Adeleye ended the Clemson drive. The Tigers trotted out Houser for a 57-yard attempt. His longest field goal of his career was 59 yards. However, his attempt fell just short.
Syracuse got into field goal range thanks to Justus Ross-Simmons. JRS returned to terrorize Clemson once again as he won a one-on-one battle down the right sideline for a 23-yard catch. However, facing a 3rd-and-5 afterwards, Angeli overthrew an open receiver that would have moved the chains. Woody redeemed himself as his 46-yard field goal attempt was good, and the game was tied at 6 with just over 6 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.
Clemson’s passing continued to be the only form of Tigers offense that produced results. Wesco continued to win downfield matchups against Samuel as he moved Clemson downfield. The Orange did enough to hold the Tigers out of the end zone, and Hauser redeemed his own miss to put Clemson back on top 9-6.
Both teams botched attempts at two-minute drills to close out the half. Syracuse went three-and-out. Clemson followed that up with an interception as Davien Kerr recorded his fourth pick of the season. An illegal hands to the face penalty essentially ended any attempt afterwards that Syracuse had down the field to end the half.
Angeli massively struggled hitting open receivers throughout the first half. He finished the first 30 mintues with 129 on only 10-24 passing. Apart from Green’s 53 yard to start the game, the Tigers only had 15 yards of rushing afterwards in the first half.
The Syracuse run game, powered by Miller, tried to get Syracuse going. He picked up a first down all by himself to being the second half. However, Angeli’s inaccuracy woes continued. While his throws were on target, Clemson’s secondary forced balls away from the hands of Russell and Umari Hatcher to force a punt.
All Clemson needed to do was the minimum to get into field goal range. A couple of first down passes and a fourth down conversion from Clemson quarterback Tait Reynolds was all the Tigers needed to set up Hauser. His second 50-plus field goal attempt of the day was good as he just got over the bar from 54 yards to put Clemson up 12-6.
The game flipped immediately on a back-breaking turnover. On a second down play, Angeli was ruled to have fumbled the ball. Clemson recovered for the scoop and score. The Tigers failed the two-point conversion, but that gave the Tigers a two-possession lead with an 18-6 score with 6:39 left in the 3rd.
The teams continued to trade defensive holds until Syracuse put together a solid drive in middle of the fourth quarter. Miller continued his strong running and Justus Ross-Simmons moved the chains himself to get Syracuse into the red zone. However, Angeli’s decision making continued to haunt the Orange. On 3rd-and-3, Angeli threw an interception into the end zone that started sending fans to the exits.
However, after another stop, Syracuse lit a fire in the Dome. Angeli connected with four straight passes to Daunte Bacheyie to move Syracuse past midfield. The fifth straight pass also connected with the CBA Syracuse tight end, and the extra effort gave Bacheyie a spark-inducing touchdown. Syracuse only trailed 18-13 with 3:12 left in the 4th quarter.
The Orange defense couldn’t get one last stop however. Reynolds converted a couple of first downs to put the nail in the coffin and give Clemson the win.
Angeli finished the ballgame throwing 18-40 for 263 yards, a touchdown, an interception and a fumble. Before the final fourth quarter drive, he had only thrown 3-11 for 60 yards in the second half. Miller finished the game with 101 yards on 20 rushes. Bacheyie, Russell and Ross-Simmons all had at least four catches.
The Orange are back in action against NC State in Raleigh next Saturday, November 14. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm on ACC Network. Syracuse is back in the JMA Wireless Dome one more time this year on November 28 against Notre Dame.
