Syracuse Falls Short in Shootout with Miami, Losing 42-24
Syracuse football hosted the University of Miami in a high-octane offensive battle that saw the Hurricanes edge out the Orange 42-24. While the final score may have appeared one-sided, the game was a much closer and more competitive contest than the scoreboard suggested.
For head coach Mark Berokoff, it was a bittersweet loss. "This game was a crazy offensive explosion," Berokoff said after the game. "I wish we had a few more than them, but we played our hearts out. Both teams were throwing everything they had at each other, and it was a tough, hard-fought game."
Quarterback Kyle McCord had one of his best performances of the season, completing 14 of 27 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns. McCord kept the Orange competitive with his arm, making big throws under pressure to keep Syracuse in the game. The highlight of his night was a long touchdown pass to tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who once again showed why he's considered one of the best in the country.
Speaking of Gadsden, the senior tight end was nothing short of sensational. He finished the game with 8 catches for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns. His ability to create separation and make spectacular plays was on full display, proving he’s a legitimate candidate for the title of top tight end in college football this season. Gadsden’s standout performance kept Syracuse within striking distance throughout the game, and his two touchdowns were key in keeping the Orange offense moving.
However, despite the impressive offensive numbers, the game was ultimately decided by Syracuse’s inability to stop Miami's offensive juggernaut. The Hurricanes racked up over 500 yards of total offense, with their explosive passing game and a balanced running attack that wore down the Orange defense.
“We just couldn’t keep up with them,” Berokoff admitted. “We gave up over 500 yards of offense, and that’s something we can’t afford to do against a team like Miami. They’ve got a lot of talent, and we just couldn’t find a way to slow them down.”
Miami’s offense, led by quarterback Cam Ward and a dynamic group of playmakers, was firing on all cylinders, with the Hurricanes answering every Syracuse score with one of their own. The Orange defense fought valiantly but ultimately couldn’t contain Miami's weapons, allowing them to control the game and maintain a lead.
Though Syracuse's defense struggled, the offense's effort, especially from McCord and Gadsden, was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing night. The two stars were able to make the most of their opportunities, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the sheer firepower of the Hurricanes.
As the rivalry with Miami ends for the season, Coach Berokoff remains upbeat despite the tough loss. "The rivalry is over for now, but the friendship between me and Coach Dealer will continue," Berokoff said with a smile. "We share a lot of things in common—especially our high-end bourbon collections. At the end of the day, it’s about the bond we have as coaches. We both want to win, but we also respect each other and the game."
The loss drops Syracuse to 3-8 overall, with the Orange now looking to regroup as they prepare for their final stretch of the season. The road ahead won’t be easy, but Coach Berokoff and his team will take the lessons learned from this shootout with Miami and look to finish the season strong.
As Berokoff put it, “We gave it our all tonight. We just have to keep fighting. We’ll regroup and be ready for the next challenge.”
Xavier Restrepo would have 210 receiving yards and 2 TD's
This ACC Week 14 showdown would have a lot of offense in the first half and barely any defense. The Canes and Orange would come out firing to start the game. Both teams would combine for 7 drives to start the game and all 7 would lead to touchdowns. The only drive that would not would be the final one before the 2nd quarter would end. The Canes would opening the scoring with a 13 yard touchdown pass from Cam Ward to Elijah Arroyo to go up 7-0. Syracuse would come right back with some very nice throws that would end with a 14 yard touchdown pass and a 7-7 tie. Miami would strike right back though as Ward would hit Xavier Restrepo for a 75 yard touchdown and a 14-7 lead after the first quarter. The Orange would again put together a very nice drive that would end with a 1 yard touchdown run tying the game at 14-14. Miami would fire right back again with Ward and Arroyo connecting on their 2nd TD of the game to go up 21-14. The Orange would take that haymaker and answer with a big uppercut of their own. They would connect on a 68 yard touchdown to tie the game at 21-21. The Canes would get the ball down inside the 5, and with a couple timeouts remaining would give it to Damien Martinez who would punch it in from 4 yards out and the 28-21 halftime lead. "I was very pleased with our offense in that first half," said Coach Dealer, "the defense, not so much. They made some great throws and plays but we really needed our defense to come up with some plays."
The second half the Canes defense would come out and hold them on a big 3rd down play that would finally force the first punt of the game. Miami's offense would keep it rolling as Ward would again connect with Restrepo, this time from 58 yards out that would put the lead to 35-21. The Orange would tack on a field goal as Miami would add a touchdown in the 4th to push the lead to 42-24.
"That second half our defense really stepped up. We were able to force a couple late interceptions in the 4th and got some big stops to help us put the game away," said Dealer.
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