SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Steve Angeli set new career highs, throwing for 417 yards and five touchdowns as the Syracuse Orange dominated against the Colgate Raiders, winning 66-24.
Colgate received to start the game. Although their star receiver, Treyvhon Saunders, moved the chains with his first catch, the Raiders went three-and-out on the ensuing set of downs. Steve Angeli responded with a couple explosive plays to lead the Orange down the field with lightning quick speed. A 24-yard completion to Johntay
Cook set up a 26 yard catch and scramble for a touchdown by Justus Ross-Simmons.
The teams traded turnovers after the Orange touchdown. After Colgate got past midfield, Raiders quarterback Zach Osborne looked cross-field to Saunders. But Osborne’s ball floated in the long enough for Braheem Long to settle under the pass and snag it right in front of Saunders. Unfortunately, Will Nixon fumbled on the ensuing play to give the ball right back to Colgate. The Raiders kicked a 39-yard field goal afterwards for their first points.
A methodical drive ended in explosive fashion for the Orange afterwards. The drive featured two Angeli run plays and Demetres Samuel’s first college catch on the offensive side of the ball. Then, on a free play due to a Colgate offside, Angeli bombed a ball downfield for Darrell Gill. Gill rose high over his defender and Moss’d him for a 43-yard touchdown and a 14-3 Orange lead.
Syracuse’s defense set up another touchdown drive for the Orange. Cuse forced Colgate into a three-and-out, punctuated by Jamie Tremble’s first career sack as another two-way player for Syracuse. Syracuse’s drive extended into the start of the second quarter, which ended with Nixon taking a pitch behind the strong side of Syracuse’s jumbo goal-line package for a two-yard score, increasing Syracuse’s lead to 21-3
The Orange defense continued to impress, forcing a turnover on downs at midfield. The Colgate drive ended with a tipped pass on 4th down by Dion Wilson. Gill immediately followed that up with another 43 yard catch downfield to set up Cuse in the red zone. The Orange couldn’t convert for a touchdown but Tripp Woody nailed a chip-shot 22 yard field goal to put the Orange up 24-3.
Gill continued his excellent game on the next Orange drive as he backpedaled into the end for a 35-yard touchdown. Then Angeli led another drive downfield to continue the beat down. Jaylan Hornsby caught his first touchdown to put Syracuse up 38-3. Colgate did impress on an 11-play two-minute drive at the end of the half, but Demetres Samuel picked off Osborne in the corner of the endzone to quickly end the half in dominant favor of the Orange.
Syracuse kept the majority of the starters on the field to start the second half. After both teams were stuffed to being the second half, Syracuse scored again. CBA Syracuse alum Darien Williams caught his first Orange touchdown, giving Angeli five passing touchdowns on the night. Colgate used a methodical 11 play drive afterwards against many of Syracuse’s normal rotational defensive players and scored their first touchdown.
Rickie Collins came into the game after that, but his introductory drive ended quickly. On a ball intended for Gabe Daniels, Collins floated it short and Taytum Johnson picked the ball from the air. Colgate scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive to end the third quarter.
Fran Brown sent Angeli back onto the field on the ensuing drive, with the majority of the starting offensive line still in the game. Angeli orchestrated another offensive drive as he punched in a score with a tush push from the one. Syracuse led 52-17.
Colgate scored on the next drive against the backups of the Orange defense with chunk plays. Cole Fulton scored for the Raiders on a 44-yard rush down the right sideline. Collins came back into the game after that. Syracuse stuck to rushing the ball, with Tylik Hill impressing on the drive. Collins completed the drive with a touchdown pass to Daniels to put the Orange up 59-24.
A muffed snap on a Colgate punt set up Syracuse to score again. After Collins lost his helmet on a quarterback keeper, Luke Carney came into the game. He rushed outside the left side of the line and scored on a nine-yard run for another Orange score.
Gill was the big benefactor of Angeli’s career day. He had six catches for 152 yards and two touchdowns. In the absence of Yasin Willis, Will Nixon still rushed for 66 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown. The Orange offense totaled 620 yards in the win.
The Orange are immediately tested next week as they travel to South Carolina and kick start ACC play at Clemson. Kick off is set for 12:00.
