The Syracuse Orange football team just pulled off a wild, historic win against the Clemson Tigers at Memorial Stadium. It’s their first-ever victory in Death Valley, and honestly, it feels like a big shift under Coach Fran Brown.
Of course, the celebration got a little muted with star quarterback Steve Angeli going down to injury. That cast a bit of a shadow over what should’ve been a full-on party.
Let’s dig into how the game unfolded and what it might mean for both teams.
Syracuse’s Strong Start Sets the Tone
Syracuse came out swinging. The plan was obvious: hit fast, keep Clemson guessing, and don’t let up.
They scored right out of the gate, then stunned everyone with a gutsy onside kick. That boldness let Syracuse set the pace and kept the Memorial Stadium crowd quiet for much of the first half.
Key Plays in the First Half
Here are a few moments that really shaped the opening half:
- Opening Drive Touchdown: Syracuse marched down the field, capping it off with a 12-yard touchdown catch by Justus Ross-Simmons.
- Surprise Onside Kick: Greg Delaine recovered the onside kick, grabbing momentum right away.
- Defensive Stands: The Orange defense held strong, limiting Clemson to just one touchdown in the first half.
Dominating the Time of Possession
Syracuse really leaned into controlling the clock. By running the ball well and not giving Clemson’s defense a chance to breathe, they kept the Tigers’ offense off the field.
This approach wore down Clemson’s defensive line, making them look almost ordinary at times.
Key Contributors
Several guys stepped up to keep the chains moving:
- Yasin Willis: Rushed for 98 yards at a crazy 7.5 yards per carry in the first quarter alone.
- Will Nixon: Broke through for a nine-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
- Johntay Cook II: Hauled in some tough catches to extend drives.
Second Half Adjustments and Challenges
Things got dicey for Syracuse in the second half, especially after Angeli’s injury. He came in as the nation’s leading passer, so seeing him helped off the field with what looked like a bad leg injury was tough.
Backup Rickie Collins Jr. got thrown into the fire and managed to hold onto the lead. But losing Angeli? That’s a worry.
Defensive Resilience
The Orange defense kept grinding and made some clutch plays:
- Interception by Davien Kerr: On a critical 4th-and-10, Kerr picked off Clemson and killed their comeback hopes.
- Limiting Big Plays: Other than a wild 60-yard run by Adam Randall, Syracuse’s defense mostly bottled up Clemson’s ground game.
Implications of the Victory
Beating Clemson in their own house is a statement. Syracuse just changed the conversation about their place in the ACC, and maybe even nationally.
Coach Fran Brown’s vision for this program suddenly feels a lot more real.
Looking Ahead
Now it’s on to Duke, and the Orange have some real momentum. Still, there are a couple of things to figure out:
- Quarterback Situation: Nobody knows yet how bad Angeli’s injury is, so Collins Jr. needs to get ready to step up if needed.
- Defensive Consistency: The defense looked good, but they’ll have to keep it up to support whoever’s under center.
Clemson’s Struggles Continue
For Clemson, this is a rough one. They’re now 0-2 in ACC play, and the pressure’s mounting on Coach Dabo Swinney and quarterback Cade Klubnik.
They tried to rally, but mistakes and undisciplined play just kept tripping them up.
Areas of Concern
Clemson’s got some things to sort out, fast:
- Offensive Inefficiency: Couldn’t finish drives, especially in the red zone.
- Defensive Penalties: Two roughing the passer calls on one drive let Syracuse pad their lead.
- Injury Impact: Getting starters back didn’t make the difference they’d hoped, and integrating them is still a work in progress.
Final Thoughts
Syracuse’s win over Clemson really says a lot about how far this team has come. Coach Fran Brown’s strategies seemed to click at just the right moments.
Even with Steve Angeli’s injury, which is honestly a tough blow, the Orange didn’t fold. They found ways to adapt on the fly.
If you want a full play-by-play or just want to relive the excitement, check out the live updates here: Syracuse Football at Clemson Live Score Updates.
- Schools Covered
- College Football Articles
- Men's College Basketball Articles
- Men's College Soccer Articles
- Women's College Basketball Articles
- Olympic Athlete Articles
- Men's College Baseball Articles
- College Sports Media Professionals Articles
- Hall of Fame Member Articles
- Former College Player Articles
- Game Previews
