Syracuse 38, Virginia Tech 31 (OT): Orange complete comeback and reach bowl eligibility

A second half for the ages gives Syracuse a comeback win for the ages

Marlowe Wax sure likes playing in the JMA Wireless Dome.

After 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery, Wax forced a fumble in overtime to seal an epic comeback victory for the Orange. Fadil Diggs fell on the loose ball to secure a 38-31 win for Syracuse Orange in overtime over the Virginia Tech Hokies. The win means that Syracuse is bowl eligible in Fran Brown’s first season.

Big news broke before the game as Virginia Tech starting quarterback Kyron Drones was ruled out of the game due to an undisclosed injury. Hokies starting running Bhayshul Tutem was also ruled as a game time decision, but didn’t feature.

After a three-and-out for both teams, Virginia Tech started to get going in the ball game. New Hokies starting quarterback Collin Schlee settled into the game with the read option, effectively disguising and keeping the ball to move the chains. The Hokies took advantage of the Orange secondary also, using wide receiver Stephen Gosnell to get behind the defensive backs for chunk plays that put Virginia Tech in the red zone on back-to-back drives. A double reverse to Jaylin Lane and another option read from Schlee gave the Hokies two quick touchdowns in the first quarter.

The Orange responded with a decent drive that saw screen plays to put LeQuint Allen and Trebor Pena into space to make plays and move the chains. After two three-and-outs, Syracuse’s offense seemed to finally rediscover its early season form. However, the Orange were held after a short run and a dropped pass from Pena. Fran Brown turned to Cornell transfer Jackson Kennedy to kick a 44-yard field goal.

Syracuse’s defense then dialed up the pressure. Marlowe Wax, in his first healthy game at home since week one, bullied his way to the back field for two sacks. The Orange started forcing the Hokies into uncomfortable passing situations. That was enough to keep Virginia Tech off the scoreboard in the second quarter.

The Orange offense tried to respond in kind, but turnovers once again killed off promising Syracuse drives. First, a long pass intended for Umari Hatcher was picked off by Mansoor Delane. The ball was thrown to Hatcher’s front shoulder and he didn’t adjust in time to get in front of the defender. The second drive, coming during a two-minute drill, ended abruptly as Darrell Gill had a pass ripped out of his hands for a fumble. The Orange trailed 14-3 at halftime.

Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images

Syracuse had the ball to start the second half, but looked lackluster at best. A fumbled snap and false start put Syracuse behind the chains, wasting the first drive of the second half. Virginia Tech responded with a methodical and balanced drive to stymie the Orange defense. Ali Jennings scored on a slant to give Virginia Tech a third touchdown out for the Hokies and deflated the Dome crowd.

Suddenly, the Orange found a much-needed lifeline from Justus Ross-Simmons. The Colorado State wide receiver transfer had been limited after working through a hamstring injury in training camp. The Rochester native finally had his first catch for the Orange and he shed a defender in one-on-one coverage to score for a 55-yard score. That cut the Syracuse deficit to 21-10.

After another defensive stop, the Orange found another chunk play to set up a touchdown. Trebor Pena broke loose on a screen pass and weaved his way on a 42 yard scramble to the four yard line. LeQuint Allen hopped over a pile to score, and a two-point conversion pass to Oronde Gadsden cut the Orange deficit to only three.

The momentum carried to the defensive side of the ball as almost immediately, a Syracuse takeaway cemented the Orange momentum in the Dome. Duce Chestnut forced a fumble and Wax fell on the ball to set the Orange with excellent field position. Ross-Simmons used a slant to get open and burst into the endzone to give the Orange their first lead of the game as the fourth quarter started. A blocked extra point made the score 24-21 in favor of Syracuse.

Virginia Tech responded with another methodical drive that ended up with a Malachi Thomas touchdown. Thomas was the No. 1 running back for VT with Tuten unable to play. After Syracuse’s offense was stopped, the Orange defense buckled down enough to limit the Hokies to a field goal. Syracuse trailed by seven with 5:18 left in the fourth quarter.

What followed was a crucial 15 play drive that culminated in a LeQuint Allen showcase. Multiple key runs ended with another leap over the pile and Syracuse tied the game. The Hokies elected to take the game to overtime.

Two rushes from Allen were all the Orange needed to score in the first overtime. And after a pass interference call, Wax stripped the ball away from Schlee on the keeper and Diggs fell on the ball to end the ball game.

The Orange hit the road again next as they travel to Chestnut Hill to take on Boston College next Saturday, November 9.