The sixth-ranked Miami Hurricanes took on the Syracuse Orange with one purpose in thoughts: win and get into the ACC Championship. And after 12 video games of on-the-edge of your seat motion, the “Canes common season has come to an in depth, dropping to Syracuse 42-38.
Two of one of the best offenses within the nation went toe-to-toe, a shootout-style recreation typical of the “Cardiac Canes”.
Mark Fletcher Jr. ran the ball in to get the scoring underway on the opening drive after Cam Ward prolonged the play on third right down to hit Jacolby George for 19 yards.
As anticipated, the potent Syracuse offense got here out gunslinging with Kyle McCord dishing the ball throughout the sphere. However after a landing from Trebor Pena was worn out as a consequence of an unlawful formation, Syracuse opted to go for it on 4th down and turned the ball over on downs.
“There have been explosive performs on either side,” mentioned head coach Mario Cristobal.
On Miami’s second drive, Ward and Restrepo linked on a 16-yard landing to make it a 14-0 ballgame. And after getting one other defensive cease, the ‘Canes started to pour it on after Ward linked with Elijah Arroyo for a 3-yard landing go.
Syracuse lastly answered within the second quarter after LeQuint Allen ran for an 8-yard landing and McCord linked to Jackson Meeks on a 9-yard landing catch; making it a 21-14 recreation heading into the half.
Syracuse carried this momentum into the second half with a 39-second drive ending with a 25 landing go to Trebor Pena to tie the sport. However the Canes answered again to retake the lead after Fletcher ran it in once more for his second landing.
Even twelve video games into the yr, the Canes merely can not get defensive stops; Syracuse instantly re-tied the sport after Meeks bought his 2nd receiving landing of the sport.
However simply as hopes in protection light, Syracuse’s Yasin Willis fumbled and recovered by Cam Pruitt, only for Xavier Restrepo to fumble and Syracuse scored on a scoop-and-score to take the lead heading into the 4th quarter.
Coach Cristobal emphasised the necessity to “Make easy performs” going into the fourth, and that’s precisely what the squad did, driving down the sphere to tie the sport at 35 a chunk after a Damien Martinez landing.
Syracuse retook the lead after attacking freshman O.J Frederique consistently, earlier than Allen ran it in for his second landing of the day.
The Canes regarded set to tie the sport earlier than an unsportsmanlike penalty from Jacolby George pressured the Canes to take a discipline purpose.
Like at all times, the protection couldn’t get a cease to offer the offense an opportunity and Syracuse took a knee to shut the sport.
“Credit score to them, they’d an important plan offensively and stored placing factors on the board,” mentioned coach Cristobal.
The Hurricanes now sit and wait, hoping the committee offers them a spot within the School Soccer Playoff; a spot that continues to be unlikely after 2 losses within the final 3 video games.