ACC Rivalry game hosted by Pittsburgh.
1st Qtr-
Pitt gets the opening kick off and gets a 21 yard run on the first play. Then they promptly go three and out.
Cuse puts together a long 12 play drive but come up short in the red zone and are forced to settle for the field goal. 3-0
Pitt finishes off teh quarter getting over mid field.
2nd qtr-
Pitt opens the quarter tossing an interception in the flat and the Orange return it to the Pitt 43.
Cuse goes three and out and their punt pins the Panthers down at thier own 3.
Pitt would put together a few first downs but be stopped around mid field. They would pin the Orange down at their own 6 with just over 3 minutes left in the half.
Cuse would go three and out and Pitt would get the ball at midfield with 2:30 left in the half.
Pitt would score from ten yards out with a run up the middle and take the lead 3-7 with a minute left in the half.
Cuse would go three and out and the Panthers would use a time out to get a chance to score before half.
Pitt would also go three and out and Cuse would stop the clock and get teh ball with :30 in the half.
Cuse would convert two big pass plays and get to the Pitt 10 with :12 seconds to go. Gandy would jump in front of the drag and pick it off, he would run 92 yards untouched to the house making a 14 point swing. 3-14 at the half.
3rd Qtr-
Cuse would shake off the swing at half and put together a nice drive and score on a streak right up the middle to thier stud Gadsen as the saftey played to shallow. 10-14
Pitt would go three and out.
Cuse would get the ball down four but the second play of the drive was picked off by Louis and returned for the second pick six of the game. 10-21.
Cuse quarterback would chake off the pick and come back with a well placed corner route to Gadsen who would go 51 yards to paydirt. 17-21
Pitt would get a streak down the sideline for 40 yards and finish off the quarter with a 3rd down conversion to get into the red zone.
4th qtr-
Pitt would put it in the end zone from 4 yards out as Bartholomew sat in the zone gradded the td pass. 17-28
Cuse would go three and out and the panthers would have a shot to seal the game but they would also go three and out.
Cuse would take advantage and would score two plays later as Malachi James found him self lined up outside with no one covering him. "We were so focused on slowing down Gadsen that I didnt see James uncovered in time to call a timeout." Cuse would fail to convert the 2pt conversion. 23-28 with 4 minutes left.
Pitt would convert one third down but Holstein would over throw the out route and then red bar the open in route forcing a fourth down punt with 2:39 left.
Cuse would go three and out and be faced with a 4th and ten at their own 20. They would chose to punt with all three timeouts and their D playing tough.
Pitt would convert a third down on a quick cross under the backers and Nwabuko would fall forward to get over the line to gain. Pitt would run three plays and punt, pinning the Orange down at their own 2 with just two seconds to go.
Cuse would toss a bomb that was picked to end the game.
Good Game Mark, you dominated with big plays but that pick to end the half was teh difference. Best of luck the rest of the season.
Syracuse Falls Short to Rival Pitt in Heartbreaking 28-23 Loss
Syracuse football’s hopes for a crucial road victory were dashed in a painful 28-23 loss to their bitter rivals, the Pittsburgh Panthers, in what will undoubtedly be a game the Orange and their fans will not soon forget.
Coach Mark Berokoff was visibly devastated by the outcome, as the Orange had every opportunity to come away with a win in this heated rivalry game but couldn’t close it out. “I feel like I let the whole community down,” Berokoff said after the game. “This one hurts deeply. It’s a loss I’ll remember for a long time.” The defeat stings even more knowing how much the rivalry with Pitt means to the Syracuse program and its supporters.
Despite the loss, there were individual performances that stood out for the Orange. Wide receiver Oronde Gadsden II put on a spectacular display, hauling in 8 catches for a staggering 172 yards and two touchdowns. Gadsden was unstoppable at times, using his size and skill to make plays in crucial moments. His second touchdown, a spectacular catch-and-run that covered 45 yards, had the Orange faithful on their feet, and it appeared as if Syracuse might seize the momentum late in the game. But despite his heroics, the Orange couldn’t get over the hump.
Quarterback Kyle McCord did his best to lead the team, throwing for 296 yards and three touchdown, but the offense struggled in key moments when they needed to make plays. There were penalties and missed opportunities that ultimately allowed Pitt to take control of the game and hold on for the win.
On the other side, the Pittsburgh Panthers were well-prepared, as Coach Mark Berokoff gave credit to their coaching staff. "They were ready for us," Berokoff said. "We didn’t match the intensity they brought, and that was the difference. Their coaching staff had them dialed in, and they out-executed us in critical situations.”
Pitt’s offense, led by their strong running game and timely passing, controlled the tempo of the game. They kept the Syracuse defense on its heels, converting key third downs and making critical plays when it mattered most. The Panthers’ defense also played its part, forcing Syracuse into several long-yardage situations, making it difficult for the Orange to sustain drives.
In a game that was always going to be a physical, emotional contest, it came down to who could execute under pressure—and Pitt proved to be the better team on that front.
Coach Berokoff expressed his disappointment with the team’s overall performance and the inability to match the intensity of their rivals. “It’s tough, but we have to take responsibility for this loss,” he said. “We didn’t come out and perform the way we should have. We’ll learn from this, and we’ll move forward, but right now, it’s hard to swallow.”
The loss to Pitt leaves Syracuse with a bitter taste in their mouths as they prepare for their next game. The team will need to regroup quickly, refocus, and find a way to bounce back. For Coach Berokoff and his players, the feeling of falling short in a rivalry game will serve as fuel for the rest of the season.
Syracuse fans are hoping that the Orange can use this loss as motivation, turning their pain into a driving force for the challenges ahead. The road to redemption starts now, and Coach Berokoff will be looking for his team to come together and respond.
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