Syracuse, NY – The Syracuse University football team had just taken the lead for the first time in Friday night’s showdown.

Kyle McCord connected with Jackson Meeks for a 13-yard touchdown to give the Orange a one-point lead with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter.

The SU defense had played quite well throughout the game, intercepting Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels twice, limiting Stanford to a couple of field goals, and keeping preseason All-ACC receiver Elic Ayomanor relatively well in check.

But on the decisive drive, Stanford converted a 4th and 9 and thus gained the opportunity for a walk-off field goal.

Emmet Kenney covered the 39 yards with ease.

Syracuse could not survive a duel with new ACC member Stanford on Friday evening and lost to the Cardinal 26:24.

McCord finished the game completing 27 of 42 passes for 339 yards, two passing touchdowns and two interceptions. Despite a 19-yard run, he finished the game with minus-8 rushing yards due to four sacks.

Trebor Peña was by far the Orange’s best pass receiver and most receiving yards, finishing with 10 catches for 101 yards.

Syracuse’s defense improved, although it was a difficult day for the opponent, aside from a few bright moments like the McCord goal.

Justin Barron and Derek McDonald led the way in tackles with eight each. Devin Grant and Clarence Lewis each intercepted a pass from Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels. They held Ayomanor to seven catches for 87 yards.

The Orange played with a number of failures that could affect them in the future.

Syracuse was missing four players from its second team after its week off: defensive lineman Dion Wilson Jr., wide receiver Emanuel Ross, running back Will Nixon and wide receiver Zeed Haynes, who was absent from the game for personal reasons, according to the school.

Then, in the first quarter, the Orange lost cornerback Marcellus Barnes Jr., who was taken to the locker room before returning to the sidelines without a full uniform.

After a rough first half and not scoring a single point on the first possession of the second quarter, Syracuse’s offense finally became somewhat consistent midway through the third quarter.

Orange County Rangers cornerback Clarence Lewis intercepted a pass from Daniels and returned the ball to Syracuse at their own 25-yard line.

But on a 3D-and-12 pass around the halfway line, McCord targeted Dan Villari. The tight end either didn’t turn around on his route or didn’t turn around in time, and Mitch Leigber scored a clean 71-yard touchdown with a pass.

At first it looked like Syracuse might be able to make a drive to tie the score or take the lead for the first time, but then the team was back down by double digits, 20-10, with 4:16 minutes left in the third quarter.

The Orange recovered from that muff with McCord’s rushing touchdown, but the next time the Orange went out, McCord was intercepted a second time.

The interception festival, in which both defenses actively participated, began early with Devin Grant’s interception against Daniels in the second quarter.

Grant dove in front of a mid-range pass as Daniels had Tiger Bachmeier in his sights. He was caught at the Stanford 23-yard line.

It could have been the game-winning play, but Syracuse’s offense couldn’t reach the end zone on the ensuing drive. Brady Denaburg, however, scored with a 31-yard field goal.

Given the Orange offense’s record so far this season, the lack of movement there, even deep in Cardinals territory, was surprising, but not in the context of the game.

SU failed to move the ball more than 16 yards on any of its first three drives.

The drive immediately before Grant’s interception went three yards and ended with just one net yard. McCord was sacked on second down for a loss of nine yards and lost the ball. Left tackle Da’Metrius Weatherspoon recovered the ball.

Syracuse did not reach the end zone until the end of the first half and went into the locker room with a 13-10 deficit.

Fran Brown showed his time management skills again when he set up the drive, called a timeout with 1:49 left in the half and Stanford was stuck on third-and-10. The defense broke up the third attempt, the Cardinal settled for a field goal and the Orange got the ball back with 1:35 left.

McCord was sacked early in the drive—he was sacked four times during the game—but two plays later, Umari Hatcher scored a 67-yard touchdown after the defender went down in coverage, giving Hatcher a clear path to the end zone.

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