Syracuse QB slings 4 touchdown passes to help new coach win his debut
SYRACUSE ― The sight of Fran Brown's former little league football coach calmed the new Syracuse bench boss before his first game with the Orange Saturday afternoon.
Senior quarterback Kyle McCord's four touchdown performance, and Syracuse's stingy red zone defense, guided the Orange to a runaway 38-22 win over Ohio for Brown's first victory. Receiver Trebor Pena scored three total touchdowns to help Syracuse begin the season 1-0 after their season opening nonconference tilt at the JMA Wireless Dome.
The former University of Georgie defensive backs coach called his wife multiple times before the game. He didn't want to let the fans down after their overwhelming attendance during Syracuse's Quad Walk. But it was the unexpected appearance of one of Brown's little league coaches that helped Syracuse's 31st coach settle down.
"I had no idea he was coming," Brown said.
'All the little things'
Pena, a redshirt junior, overcame injuries for his breakout season opener. He beat man and zone coverages on touchdown receptions of 20 and 14 yards, and scored on a 1-yard jet sweep that gave Syracuse a 38-16 fourth quarter advantage. Pena credited "all the little things", like changing his diet and sleep cycle, for strengthening his body.
"(I) put a lot of work in since January until now. Just seeing all the guys … work their butt off and get this win just means a lot," Pena said.
McCord, who transferred from Ohio State, engineered scoring drives to jump out to a 17-9 halftime lead after barely possessing the ball in the first. Syracuse led by one after Ohio running back Anthony Tyus III's touchdown run early in the third before the Orange scored the next 21 points. McCord had plenty of time to throw as he completed 27 of 39 passes for 354 yards, four touchdowns and one interception.
Brown said his offensive line and receivers were two of Syracuse's biggest upgrades. Redshirt junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II caught seven passes for 108 yards and a touchdown after an injury ended his 2023 season after two games. Pena had six reception for 78 yards. Redshirt freshman Zeed Haynes had four receptions for 70 yards. Junior running back LeQuint Allen rushed for 98 yards and caught a 5-yard touchdown reception in the third.
"And Kyle can throw so it helped a lot," Brown said.
Syracuse's defense kept them alive by stiffening in the red zone. Specifically in the first quarter, when the Bobcats (0-1) were forced into two field goals and a 6-0 lead after controlling almost 14 minutes of clock. Senior defensive lineman Fadil Diggs, formerly of Texas A&M, had three of his eight total tackles go for losses in helping the Orange record four sacks. James Heard Jr., a redshirt freshman linebacker, caught an interception.
"We wanted to make sure we could dominate the red area," Brown said.
The Orange overcome a 203-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance from Tyus. Coleman Owen hauled in 10 receptions for 137 yards as Parker Navarro's leading receiver.
What's next for Syracuse?
The Orange will host Georgia Tech (2-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) in their ACC opener noon, Saturday, Sept. 7. The game will be televised on the ACC Network.
Yellow Jackets coach Brent Key was on Western Carolina's coaching staff when Brown played there in 2004. Brown expects Syracuse will have to stop Georgia Tech rushing game after their upset 24-21 win over No. 10 Florida State last week in Dubland, Ireland.
— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He has been a reporter for 15 years. Follow him @MarquelSports and X or on Instagram. You can contact him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Syracuse vs Ohio football: Kyle McCord throws 4 TDs in win
