Six Different Players Score as 'Cuse Tops Holy Cross

Saturday, September 28

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 PM

Syracuse University

3-1 , 1-1

Holy Cross

1-4 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Holy Cross

Syracuse

Six Different Players Score as 'Cuse Tops Holy Cross

9/28/2024 3:27:00 PM | Football

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Six different players, five offensive and one defensive, found the end zone to power the Syracuse football team over Holy Cross, 42-14, on Saturday afternoon at the JMA Wireless Dome to conclude team's season-opening four-game homestand. The 'Cuse offense recorded a season-high 541 total yards, 416 in the air and 125 on the ground in the win.

The win moves 'Cuse (3-1, 1-1 ACC), led by Kyle McCord, who secured a career-best 385 yards in the air. He's the first quarterback in program history to throw for 300+ yards in four consecutive games.McCord also tossed four touchdown passes for the third time this season, matching his personal best. McCord spread the wealth, as 10 different receivers caught a pass in the victory, with Jackson Meeks, Umari Hatcher, Darrell Gill Jr. and Trebor Pena serving as the recipients of touchdown passes. LeQuint Allen Jr. (rushing) and Jayden Bellamy (pick-six) accounted for the other scores.

Meeks earned the first 100-yard receiving game of his career, shattering his previous high of 43 yards in the air with 161 on the day. Hatcher's score was the second-straight week he found the end zone. Pena continued his blistering start to the year, upping his team-leading stats in receptions (26) and touchdowns (5), thanks to a four-catch, one touchdown day.

LeQuint Allen Jr. totaled 135 all-purpose yards, the third time this season he has recorded over 100 yards in a contest. The Millville, N.J. native also added his first rushing touchdown of the season.

The Syracuse defense held Holy Cross (1-4) to just nine yards on the ground, by far the Crusaders' lowest total of the season. Before Saturday's contest, Holy Cross' fewest rushing yards in a game was 87 against New Hampshire on Sept. 7. The Orange also slowed a Crusaders' passing game that was averaging 268.3 yards across their last three games. The Holy Cross offense threw for 194 yards in its loss to Syracuse.

The 'Cuse got things started fast, leading the team to an early 7-0 lead over Holy Cross on its first possession of the afternoon, putting together a 13-play, 92-yard drive that ended with a Hatcher seven-yard touchdown catch. After forcing the Crusaders to punt on the ensuing drive, the Orange offense marched down the field again, needing just seven plays and less than two minutes to double their lead to 14-0. The Syracuse scoring drive ended in a 23-yard touchdown catch by Gill Jr., his first of the season.

McCord tossed his third touchdown pass of the opening half on the first play of the second quarter. The 'Cuse quarterback connected with Meeks for a 38-yard score to extend the lead to 21-0.

Holy Cross responded to the deficit with touchdowns on back-to-back possessions to close the SU lead to 21-14 midway through the second quarter.

With under two minutes left in the first half, Peña received a punt from the Crusaders that started the sixth drive of the half for the Orange. Six plays later, the wide receiver caught a four-yard pass from McCord in the endzone, bringing the advantage out to 28-14 heading into halftime.

The first score of the second half came on the final play of the third quarter, with Allen sneaking into the end zone for a one-yard rushing touchdown. The score extended the Orange lead to 35-14 heading into the final frame.

With 9:59 to play in the game, Bellamy provided a defensive score for the Orange, picking off the Crusaders' quarterback and returning the ball 33 yards for a touchdown. The interception was the defensive back's first of the campaign.

Neither team would score for the remainder of the contest, as the Orange went on to earn a 42-14 victory.

The Orange will now hit the road for the first time this season, heading to Las Vegas for a Friday night contest with UNLV. The game will be broadcast on FS1. Tickets to the remaining three home dates on Syracuse's schedule are available now at Cuse.com/Tickets.