Syracuse bounces back with blowout win over Holy Cross
Syracuse football improved to 3-1 with a blowout win over Holy Cross.
Syracuse came into the weekend with something to prove. After a devastating last-minute loss to Stanford the previous week, the Orange were in desperate need of a win—not just for the standings, but to reaffirm their identity. This matchup against Holy Cross was more than just a game; it was a chance to reset, regain confidence, and reestablish dominance. It was a get-right game, and Syracuse delivered. With a commanding 42-14 victory, the Orange left no doubt that they were back on track.
Right from the opening drive, the Orange sent a clear message: they were not about to let one loss define them. Quarterback Kyle McCord, who had been stellar all season despite a couple of interceptions against Stanford, took command immediately. On the very first play from scrimmage, McCord connected with Umari Hatcher for a 7-yard touchdown, putting Syracuse on the board and instantly shifting the momentum in their favor. In addition to Hatcher's dominant presence, Jackson Meeks was a force to be reckoned with. Meeks, who stepped into the WR1 role this week, made his presence felt early, signaling that he was ready to be McCord's primary target moving forward. Shortly after Hatcher's touchdown, Meeks reeled in a 38-yard pass from McCord to put Syracuse up 14-0.
By the end of the game, Meeks had a career day, hauling in 10 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. His ability to create separation and consistently move the chains made him the most valuable player on offense, and his connection with McCord was instrumental in keeping the Orange offense firing on all cylinders.
While the offense set the tone, the defense followed suit, showing they were determined to shake off the Stanford loss. Syracuse's defense forced Holy Cross into three consecutive 3-and-out drives to start the game, allowing the Orange to keep the Crusaders' offense under wraps. The defense had been criticized for lapses in coverage the previous week, but early on, they demonstrated they could lock down opponents when necessary.
The first quarter was all Syracuse, and by the time they scored their second touchdown, it looked like the game might turn into a blowout. The Crusaders, despite being 1-3, were not without talent, and all three of their losses had been close games. Holy Cross showed their resilience in the second quarter, taking advantage of a rare breakdown in Syracuse's secondary. Crusader quarterback Joe Pesansky launched a deep pass to wide receiver Max Mosey for a 63-yard touchdown, exposing gaps in the Orange's defense that had been a problem the week before.
For Syracuse, this is a familiar issue. The Orange defense had allowed a critical long pass late in the game against Stanford, and the same mistake here gave Holy Cross life. Pesansky's pass narrowed the score to 14-7, keeping the game closer than it should have been.
Undeterred, McCord and the Syracuse offense quickly got back to work. On their next possession, McCord engineered a methodical 6-play, 55-yard drive, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass to Trebor Pena. With that, McCord not only extended the lead to 21-7 but also added to his already impressive season stat line. His connection with Pena was McCord's 14th touchdown pass of the year and added to a remarkable streak that was quietly making history.
McCord's performance marked his fourth consecutive game with over 300 passing yards, setting a new program record for Syracuse. His consistency in the air has been one of the Orange's defining traits this season, and against Holy Cross, McCord continued to shine. He finished the game with 385 passing yards, going 28-of-50 on the day. Though his accuracy dipped at times, particularly in the second half, McCord's yardage totals are trending in unprecedented territory for the program. His ability to stretch the field, coupled with the emerging reliability of Meeks and Pena as his go-to receivers, has kept the Syracuse offense potent.
Despite the offensive success, the second half was not without its challenges. McCord threw an interception on a long pass attempt early in the third quarter, and a subsequent drive stalled after a penalty wiped out what would have been a touchdown pass to Pena. Even the special teams faltered, with a missed field goal attempt that clanged off the right upright, leaving Syracuse with no points on multiple second-half drives.
Coach Fran Brown noted in the post-game press conference just how much special teams need to improve before the trip to Las Vegas "We just have to keep getting better in the kicking game," Brown said. "Something we have to fix is special teams overall. I had to call a timeout at one point because of the sub situation, and we worked on it all week."
However, the defense came alive when it mattered most. Jayden Bellamy delivered a game-changing moment with a pick-six in the fourth quarter, extending Syracuse's lead and finally putting the game out of reach. Bellamy, who led the team in tackles with five, was the defensive standout of the day, providing the kind of spark Syracuse needed to seal the win.
The late-game heroics weren't limited to Bellamy. Freshman defensive end KingJoseph Edwards made the most of his playing time, recording his first two career sacks as Syracuse's defense clamped down in the final quarter. Even backup quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. got in on the action, completing a pass to Jaylan Hornsby for a first down and showing flashes of his mobility late in the game.
While Syracuse's second-half struggles raised some concerns, the game ended as a clear victory. McCord's 385 passing yards and record-setting streak solidified his place as the leader of this team, while Meeks' breakout performance at WR1 added a new dimension to the Orange offense. The defense showed signs of growth, particularly in the closing moments. This 42-14 win over Holy Cross was exactly what Syracuse needed. After the disappointment against Stanford, this game served as a critical reset—proof that the Orange can rise above adversity and deliver when it counts.
As Syracuse heads into a tough stretch of road games, starting with UNLV next week, this win provides a much-needed boost of confidence. The Orange are back on track, and with McCord's record-setting performance leading the way, they're ready to take on the challenges ahead.
