Rally Falls Short at Pinstripe Bowl

Thursday, December 29

Bronx, N.Y.

2 PM

Syracuse University

7-6 , 4-4

Minnesota

9-4 , 5-4

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Syracuse

Minnesota

12/29/2022 5:48:00 PM | Football

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A late rally fell short for the Syracuse football teams as the Orange dropped a 28-20 decision against Minnesota at the Bad Boy Mowers Pinstripe Bowl.

Syracuse was led by freshman LeQuint Allen in his first collegiate start. He rushed for 95 yards on 15 carries and also led the team with 11 catches for 60 yards. It was the first game a Syracuse player had double-digit receptions since Taj Harris caught 13 passes vs. NC State in 2020.

The Orange were also buoyed by a career-high 32 completions from Garrett Shrader, who completed 63-percent of his passes for 330 yards. Shrader accounted for both touchdowns, scoring twice with his legs. Andre Szmyt converted two field goal chances, one at 40 yards, and the second at 38 yards, to give the Orange its 20-point total on the day - seven more than the Gophers' season average surrendered.

After a scoreless first quarter behind stalwart defensive efforts both ways, Minnesota scored twice in the second quarter to take a 14-0 lead, with rushing and passing touchdowns seven minutes apart.

All told, the Orange accounted for 477 total yards of offense, limiting the Gophers' offense to 215, including just 77 on the ground. Syracuse went three-for-three scoring in the red zone as well.

Late in the second quarter, Syracuse engineered a 47-second drive, covering 86 yards. The drive, which ended with a 1-yard rush from Shrader, left Syracuse trailing 14-7 at the half.

The Orange connected scoring drives, receiving the opening kick of the second half. Shrader and the offense moved 65 yards downfield to set up the 40-yard field goal by Szmyt, trimming the Golden Gopher lead to 14-10.

A 70-yard pick six from the Minnesota defense on Syracuse's ensuing possession put the Gophers up 21-10 midway through the third quarter.

With 1:38 eft in the third quarter, Syracuse cut the lead down to 21-13 thanks to another lengthy drive that utilized over five and a half minutes of clock across 13 plays, ending with a 38-yard kick from Szmyt.

But one minute later, the Gophers extended their lead to 28-13 on a two-play drive for 25-yards. The play was setup by a 72-yard kickoff return that started the Minnesota drive deep in Orange territory.

With two and a half minutes left, the Orange found pay dirt after covering 63 yards in two minutes for a 28-20 deficit. Shrader scrambled, avoiding several would-be sacks before running for a 7-yard touchdown to make it a one-touchdown game.

Syracuse went for an on-sides kick, which Minnesota recovered. The Orange defense held the Gophers to a three-and-out but an Orange penalty on the third down kept the ball with Minnesota to end the game, 28-20.

Oronde Gadsden II etched another record to his tally this season. With seven catches for 78 yards, he set the program record for most receiving yards by a sophomore (975). He previously held the SU single-season records for most receptions and yards by a tight end.

The 2022 season concludes with a wealth of talent returning for next season. The Orange utilized 43 different starters due to injury losses this season, a number which ranks sixth in the FBS and tied for second among teams that qualified for a bowl game. Today's starting lineup featured just three players on offense and defense that will not be back next season.