‘Cuse Shocks Clemson

Syracuse pulls off an upset for the ages, but at what cost?

CLEMSON, S.C. – The Syracuse Orange opened up their eight game ACC schedule with a statement victory on Saturday as they traveled to South Carolina and defeated the Clemson Tigers in Death Valley 34-21.

Syracuse jumped out in front early, and although weather and significant injuries tried to slow them down, they would not be denied, improving to 1-0 in ACC play, and doing so in commanding fashion.

This was the first time that Syracuse has emerged victorious from Clemson, and Fran Brown acknowledged the excitement surrounding both the team and the school.

“I can’t wait to get back and see the community party and have a fun night…I am excited to get back and go out to eat, maybe I can eat somewhere free tonight,” Coach Brown said.

While there are so many positives to take away from the game, the main storyline concerns the future of the quarterback, Steve Angeli, who put no pressure on his left leg as he limped to the sideline during a non-contact injury with 3:10 to go in the third quarter. He was seen on the sideline and outside of the locker room with crutches and a boot on that left leg.

Sunday it was announced Angeli is lost for the season with a torn achilles tendon.

However, there were so many positives to take away from the game, especially on the defensive side of the ball and within the wide receiver core.

Syracuse defensive coordinator, Elijah Robinson, had a phenomenal game plan and kept Klubnik guessing all afternoon long, and between wide receivers Johntay Cook, Justus Ross-Simmons and Darrell Gill Jr., Syracuse’s offense was firing on all cylinders.

The Tigers won the opening coin toss, and elected to defer, giving the Orange the ball out of the gate.

Running back, Yasin Willis, who was questionable coming into the game today, was able to suit up for Syracuse and made a big impact early, running for a 32-yard gain on the second play of the game. Two plays later, Steve Angeli was forced to his right and scrambled for an eight-yard gain and a first down, however stayed on the ground after being hit, scaring all Orange fans.

Backup quarterback Rickie Collins was forced into the game and took two snaps, but then Angeli emerged from the medical tent and re-entered the game as if nothing had ever happened.

He marched the offense down the field and threw a beautiful back shoulder ball to Justus Ross-Simmons, who continues to impress every time he steps on a football field, for a twelve-yard score.

“I have made that play a hundred times before, so when I saw the ball in the air and the defensive back’s back turned, I was like ‘oh yeah, I got this,'” Ross-Simmons said.

Then, Fran Brown did the unthinkable. He dug deep into his playbook and pulled a rabbit out of a hat, calling an onside kick from kickoff specialist Jayden Oh, who was able to recover it to keep possession with the Orange.

After the gutsy call, and another one on 4th and 2 in the middle of the drive, Syracuse was able to extend on their lead with a 23-yard field goal from Tripp Woody to make it 10-0.

However, Clemson would respond when they finally got the ball, and Tiger quarterback Cade Klubnik was able to connect with sophomore receiver Bryant Wesco Jr. on a moon ball for a 38-yard score. Memorial stadium was rocking as Clemson gained all the momentum.

That was until Darrell Gill Jr. made a toe-tap reception right in front of the Clemson bench for a 19-yard gain to move the chains on 2nd and 12 the ensuing possession, and Syracuse did not look back. Offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon dialed in the rushing attack and Willis, as well as Jeff’s son and the backup running back, Will Nixon, took matters into their own hands.

Will finished the drive with a nine-yard score, extending the Syracuse lead to 17-7 as Memorial Stadium began to get restless. That restlessness continued as Syracuse forced Clemson to punt on their ensuing drive, and then drew two roughing the passer penalties as they looked for more.

That was when Steve Angeli connected with Darrell Gill Jr. once more on a beautiful back shoulder ball in the corner of the endzone and the Orange led 24-7. Memorial stadium was stunned, and the boo birds were out.

After trading punts, Clemson finally was able to march down the field, and after a taunting penalty from Syracuse deep in their own territory, the Tigers capitalized with a score of their own, as Klubnik found Adam Randall in the back of the endzone to cut the deficit to 10 with 1:06 remaining, giving the Clemson faithful a glimmer of hope.

However, after both teams squandered opportunities in the final minute, that would be the score heading into the half, Syracuse leading Clemson 24-14.

Then, the clouds rolled in, and after a lightning strike was detected within eight miles of the stadium, the game entered a delay that would officially last for 96 minutes, and causing a significant portion of the Clemson faithful to head for the exits.

Everyone has their own methods on how to stay loose and ready during a lengthy delay, but for junior Devin Grant, who led the team on the day with ten tackles, it was to catch a little shut eye.

“I was doing some ankle mobility to make sure I didn’t get too relaxed, but to be honest I took a ten-minute nap just to get my energy back because it was hot,” said Grant.

Regardless of your preparation, a weather delay of any kind adds a new layer to the game, but even after spending over an hour and a half off the field, Syracuse was able to come out get a huge stop to open the second half as they forced Clemson to punt.

Angeli, wearing a knee brace after the break, kept his foot on the gas as he connected with Johntay Cook for a 59-yard strike right up the middle of the field. Although the offense could not move the ball after that, Tripp Woody would drill his second field goal of the day to make it 27-14 Syracuse.

Cook finished the day with 113 receiving yards as well as 18 more yards on the ground and Fran Brown says there is more in the tank.

“I don’t think he’s fully healthy yet, but he’s getting there. But I do think he is 100% healthy mentally. His body is still catching up, but once it does, you will see him be different. We have seen him do stuff in practice that y’all haven’t seen yet,” said Brown.

Clemson, needing two touchdowns, got the ball back and was moving with efficiency. However, in the blink of an eye on their own 44, the Orange forced a turnover on downs, and Fran Brown was ecstatic showing love to every defender on the Syracuse sideline after the pass breakup.

After trading punts once again, Syracuse got the ball back, but on 2nd and 7, Angeli took off, scrambling to his right once again, and going down once again, but this time as a non-contact injury. He stayed on the field for a long period of time, and eventually was helped to the sideline, putting no pressure on his left leg.

“It was hard seeing that, seeing a brother like that, we are not just teammates, we build bonds on this team and that is a brother to me now. So, seeing that, it really sucks,” said Rickie Collins, who was asked for the second time in the game to fill in for Angeli, but this time finishing the game for the Orange.

Collins came in and immediately threw an incomplete pass, and as punter Jack Stonehouse trotted onto the field, it felt like this might be the momentum swing as the Clemson fans that had not left Memorial Stadium started to get loud once again.

That optimism was short-lived, as freshman linebacker Antione Deslauries was not impacted by it, as he immediately punched the ball out from Adam Randall and forced a turnover for the Orange. The next play from scrimmage, Rickie Collins triple clutched, threw up a ball to the corner of the endzone, and once again Ross-Simmons made a play.

The senior, who caught his first touchdown pass of the game four hours earlier, just turned around and the ball fell right into his lap for the score. 34-14 Syracuse. They could taste the upset.

“I mean you got to be ready to for your moment. I got mine and God gave me that. Coach Fran believes in me, to put me out there, so I am thankful,” said Collins.

The upset felt even more real when Clemson once again found themselves in Syracuse territory, but the Syracuse defense stepped up. Braheem Long Jr. was able to tackle Cade Klubnik short of the line to gain on 4th and 2 as the third quarter came to a close.

Clemson would make it a 13-point game as Bryant Wesco Jr. hauled in a nine-yard score with nine minutes remaining, but with 5:07 to go, freshman defensive back Davien Kerr put the icing on the cake as he high pointed the football on 4th and 10, coming down with his first career interception.

A significant win for the entire city of Syracuse, as Fran Brown just keeps on winning.

However, even with the win, Syracuse will have a lot of questions to answer as they prepare for their third home game of the season, and their second ACC matchup next Saturday at the JMA Wireless Dome against the Duke Blue Devils.