Syracuse Rallies Past UConn for OT Win

Saturday, September 6

Syracuse, N.Y.

12 PM

Syracuse University

1-1 , 0-0

UConn

1-1 , 0-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

UConn

Syracuse

9/6/2025 4:01:00 PM | Football

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Leading for just 47 seconds, Syracuse football rallied past the University of Connecticut, picking up a 27-20 overtime win to open the JMA Wireless Dome for the 2025 season.

Syracuse (1-1) took its lead with 48 seconds left in the game as Steve Angeli hit Justus Ross-Simmons in stride for a 53-yard touchdown to take a 20-17 lead. After UConn tied the game with one second left, the Orange scored on a 6-yard Ross-Simmons touchdown pass from Angeli on the first possession of overtime.

The Orange defensive unit held UConn (1-1) out of the end zone, aided on the final two plays of the game by back-to-back pass breakups from true freshman linebacker Antoine Deslauriers to seal the first home victory at the Dome.

Syracuse piled up 461 total yards, including 417 through the air and 44 total rushing yards. Angeli finished with 33 completions on 53 chances and a pair of touchdowns in his Dome debut. Dan Villari led the receiving corps with 104 yards on seven catches, followed by Ross-Simmons with 83 yards and both Syracuse touchdowns.

The Huskies finished with 416 total yards of offense, going for 274 yards in the air with 142 on the ground. Joe Fagnano completed 24 of 43 passes for 259 yards while UConn's lone passing touchdown came on a trick play from John Neider on a 15-yard pass to Mel Brown.

Syracuse received the opening kick and drove 68 yards to open the game thanks to 4-for-6 passing by Angeli. The drive stalled at the UConn 8-yard line on a fourth-and-four with a direct snap to Dan Villari that came up a yard short. The Orange picked up 20 yards on the ground in addition to 48 through the air.

On the opening UConn drive, the Huskies picked up a few chunk plays before the Orange defense halted the UConn momentum near midfield. The Huskies moved the ball 42 yards on seven plays before a would-be first down pass skipped off the turf short of the receiver.

Crisis was averted on the ensuing Orange drive from their own 10 yard line. Syracuse fumbled the ball and was recovered by UConn at the Syracuse 13 but the runner was ruled down after review. The Orange punted two plays later. Deep in the Syracuse end zone, Jack Stonehouse boomed a punt out to the UConn 42 to Jackson Harper who was brought down by Zyian Moultrie-Goddard, who made the tackle untouched.

Three seconds into the second quarter, UConn scored the first touchdown of the day on a gadget play as Fagnano tossed back to John Neider who then hit Alex Honig wide open on the right side of the end zone. The drive covered 60 yards on 10 plays in just under five minutes.

On a 4th-and-2 in the Huskies' red zone, Angeli got hit and fumbled a ball that bounced out near midfield. UConn took over but the Orange defense picked up its first sack of the year as Kevin Jobity Jr. planted Fagnano on third down. The Orange got off the field as UConn went three-and-out in just 90 seconds. On the next drive Syracuse then went three-and-out before pinning the Huskies back at their own 22-yard line.

What would have been the game's third-straight three-and-out turned out to be a huge play for the Orange. A high snap on the potential punt came up Syracuse as Denis Jaquez Jr. drilled the punter and set the Orange up at the Huskies' 19-yard line.

Syracuse got its first points at the Dome this season as Tripp Woody booted a 38-yard field goal to make it 7-3 late in the second quarter. After a UConn touchdown with 62 seconds left in the half, the Orange cut the lead in half to 14-6 on Woody's second field goal of the day as time expired, this time for 32 yards out.

Opening the second half, UConn drove 73 yards on 10 plays before a 35-yard field goal from Chris Freeman extended the Huskies' lead to 17-6.

The Orange went three-and-out but on their first possession of the second half but pushed the Huskies down to their own 15 yard line thanks to a 62-yard punt from Stonehouse, his fourth punt of at least 60 yards since joining the Orange.

Syracuse's defense made good on the flipped field, forcing UConn into another three-and-out, aided by a Husky penalty and a Chris Peal tackle for loss. The Orange started their next drive at their own 31 yard line but could not pick up a first down. Stonehouse sent another big punt 48 yards down field.

Again the Syracuse defense stepped up and held off UConn at midfield, aided by David Reese breaking up a pass and nearly picking off Fagnano on a 2nd-and-19. After the punt, Syracuse opened its next drive on its own 2-yard line.

Early in the fourth quarter, Angeli hit Darrell Gill Jr. for a 40-yard pass before connecting with Will Nixon for another 11 yards. The drive stalled out before a 48-yard field goal attempt leaked just right of the goal posts.

After the Syracuse defense held UConn to another three-and-out, Angeli was picked off by D'Mon Brinson near midfield as the Orange still trailed by 11 with 10:16 to play.

With just over five minutes to play in the fourth, Angeli dropped in a pass to Justus Ross-Simmons at the 40-yard line before the latter ran the rest of the way untouched for a 53-yard catch and run touchdown, the first home touchdown of the season. The 2-point conversion came up just short as Syracuse cut the lead down to 17-12 with 5:41 to play. The play cost just 94 seconds of game clock to cover the 90 yards in eight plays.

The Orange defense held the Huskies to a six-play drive and limited it to 35 yards before a UConn punt set up the go-ahead touchdown drive for the Orange.

Starting back at its own 20 yard line, Syracuse drove 80 yards in just 10 plays before Yasin Willis punched it in from three yards out. The Orange took a 20-17 lead with 48 seconds left after Angeli connected again with Gill Jr. for the 2-point conversion.

Over the next 47 seconds, UConn covered 52 yards on eight plays to set up the tying field goal for a 20-20 score heading into overtime.

Syracuse needed just five plays in overtime as Angeli and Ross-Simmons hooked up again for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on the first possession of overtime. Backed by the Orange defensive unit and the pair of pass breakups from Deslauriers, UConn was blanked in overtime as the Orange improved to 2-0 against the Huskies in the Fran Brown Era.

Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for a Friday Night Lights showdown against regional foe Colgate. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Sept. 12 for First Responders/Healthcare Appreciation Day. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/Tickets or by calling 1-888-DOME-TIX (1-888-3663-849)