Syracuse cruises past Cal 33-25 for its seventh win of the season

Orange avenge loss at BC with west-coast win against Cal

D. Ross Cameron-Imagn Images

In what felt like a ‘must-win’ game, the Syracuse Orange (7-3, 4-3) more than showed up in a dominant 33-25 win over the California Golden Bears (5-5, 1-5) at Memorial Stadium.

Don’t let the final score fool you, Syracuse was in total control of this football game. The Orange led for the entire 60 minutes, and it never even felt close. It took Fran Brown only a year to eclipse seven wins as the head football coach at Syracuse, a feat Dino Babers only accomplished twice during his eight seasons with the Orange. With all that said, let’s recap the win:

Syracuse received the opening kickoff and immediately got to work. SU found points on its first offensive possession. A 13-play, 69-yard drive (6:06) ended in a 24-yard Jackson Kennedy field goal that gave the Orange an early three-nothing lead over the Golden Bears.

The Orange defense forced an early Cal turnover, its first of two takeaways on the day. QB Fernando Mendoza’s fourth pass attempt was picked off by Orange LB Marlowe Wax and returned 21 yards to Cal’s 40-yard line, Wax’s first interception this season and the second of his career.

And, what looked like disaster for SU on its second drive on offense seemingly turned into more points on the scoreboard. Orange WR Trebor Pena fumbled the football at Cal’s 25-yard line, but Orange OL J’Onre Reed recovered it, and SU settled for another Jackson Kennedy field goal - this time from 42 yards away.

The early game struggles didn’t stop after Cal’s first offensive drive. Mendoza’s next pass was intercepted by Orange DB Davien Kerr (freshman), filling in for the injured redshirt sophomore Jayden Bellamy.

Syracuse led Cal 6-0 after the first 15 minutes, its first points and lead in the first quarter since Oct. 12 against NC State in Raleigh.

Syracuse successfully converted points off the Kerr interception. Its second offensive possession, a 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive (5:08), ended with Orange RB LeQuint Allen in the endzone on a run from 30 yards away. Allen’s third straight game with a rushing touchdown. The Orange on top 13-0 over Cal with 13:37 left in the 2nd quarter.

Cal eventually found its footing after Golden Bears RB Jaivan Thomas rumbled off a 75-yard rushing touchdown, the longest gain of Thomas’s career (prior career-long was 57 yards against San Diego State earlier this year). The Orange lead cut to just six.

You MORE than got your money’s worth if you got to Memorial Stadium early, five scores on the first eight drives of the football game between Syracuse and Cal. The Orange pushed its lead to 13 points with 9:52 left in the second quarter after LeQuint Allen barreled his way into the endzone for his second touchdown.

Syracuse forced a quick Cal three-and-out to get the ball back. Orange DB Clarence Lewis nearly came away with his second interception of the season - on what looked like a potential pick-six opportunity.

SU scored again shortly after. Orange WR Jackson Meeks on the receiving end of QB Kyle McCord’s first and only passing touchdown. An eight-play, 70-yard scoring drive (4:28), McCord on that drive: 4/4 for 56 yards and the six-yard touchdown.

Cal had an opportunity to close the gap on a long 48-yard field goal try before half from Golden Bears K Derek Morris, but the kick was short and left. Syracuse went into halftime with the lead 27-7, its largest lead at half over an opponent this season. The Orange were just a yard shy of 300 yards of total offense at the break.

Cal head football coach Justin Wilcox clearly had some words for his guys in the locker room because out of the halftime, the Golden Bears went 93 yards (14 plays, 6:01) for its second score of the game. Golden Bears RB Jaydn Ott taking it 15 yards himself to make it 27-14.

Syracuse responded with points on the possession that followed. Jackson Kennedy connected on a 43-yard field attempt, one yard short of Kennedy’s career-long (44), to push SU’s lead to 16 with 4:53 left in the 3rd quarter.

The Orange defense stood tall again after they forced another Cal three-and-out, a night and day difference from what the unit looked like defensively in its game against BC last week. Headed into the 4th quarter, Cal’s first seven offensive drives: INT, INT, TD, PUNT, Missed FG, TD, PUNT.

The Golden Bears finally forced a stop of their own in the 4th quarter, SU’s first punt of the football game on its 7th drive after its first six went for points.

Cal converted points off of the stop. Golden Bears RB Jaydn Ott broke away for a long 53-yard run that set up Cal at SU’s 27-yard line. The Golden Bears failed to get into the endzone but converted on a 44-yard field goal attempt from Ryan Coe to make it 30-17 with 12:43 left in the 4th quarter.

The 4th quarter was quiet until the crowd was forced to its feet after LeQuint Allen HURDLED a Cal defender for a 12-yard gain and a 1st down at midfield.

After the display of athleticism from LeQuint Allen, Syracuse extended its lead to 16 after Jackson Kennedy connected on his fourth field goal attempt (32 yards).

Mendoza went 75 yards on Cal’s last drive and connected with Golden Bears WR Jonathan Brady for the touchdown to make it a single-score game, but too little too late. The Orange successfully recovered the onside kick with 1:00 left, and Kyle McCord took a knee three times to secure SU’s seventh win of the year.

Syracuse returns to the Dome next week for a non-conference matchup with UConn on Saturday, Nov. 23. Kickoff is set for noon on the CW.