SYRACUSE, N.Y.— Syracuse outgained California by 187 yards and racked up 11 more first downs than the Golden Bears.
Yet, when the clock in the JMA Wireless Dome struck zero on Saturday, it was Cal celebrating a 21-18 road victory.
Three turnovers and 15 penalties spelled doom for SU in a game where the team led in almost every statistical category.
After the Orange’s 12-penalty game last week, Syracuse head coach Fran Brown expected his team to be cleaner, but following the loss his tune changed.
“We might be a little more undisciplined than I thought,” Brown said.
Syracuse’s penalty woes reared their head especially on special teams, as flags potentially took points off the board twice.
On the second-to-last play before halftime, Davien Kerr fielded a Cal punt off the bounce and weaved through defenders getting into field goal range.
But during the return flags flew and a penalty took a potential three points off the board right before halftime.
Demetres Samuel Jr. also had a major return taken away after an illegal block in the back infraction.
‘Cuse went into the locker room at the half leading 12-7 following two Tripp Woody field goals and a 23-yard pitch and catch for a touchdown from Steve Angeli to Daunte Bacheyie.
In the second half, California regained the lead on a third quarter Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele touchdown toss to Jordan King.
Syracuse responded with a touchdown drive of their own, totaling 13 plays that lasted nearly six minutes.
The finishing touch was a 2-yard plunge into pay dirt from running back Ju’Juan Johnson.
Johnson, the LSU transfer, got the lion’s share of the carries for a Syracuse rushing attack that tallied 118 total yards.
“We always strive to have a four-or-five man running back room,” Johnson said. “We never know who’s going to start, we never know who’s going to play the most.”
Syracuse used four different running backs in the game, but starter Tylik Hill was removed after a 55-yard run, due to what coach Brown said was a quad injury.
After two more stops from the Syracuse defense and an SU missed field goal from 31 yards, Angeli trotted back onto the field with an 18-14 lead and just over five minutes remaining.
Angeli’s first pass of the ensuing drive was picked off and taken to the end zone by Cal’s Kingston Lopa.
It marked the Golden Bears’ second lead of the half and the final lead change of the game.
Syracuse was given two more shots to tie up the ballgame, but Woody missed his second field goal in the fourth and Angeli threw a third interception to seal SU’s fate.
Even after the loss, Fran Brown found some positives in his team’s performance.
“I’m excited about where we’re going to continue to go on the defensive side,” Brown said.
Syracuse’s defense allowed just 249 yards and held Cal’s high-powered passing attack to just 182 yards.
‘Cuse will travel to Pittsburgh on Thursday where it will have to shake off the loss on a short week.
Kickoff at Acrisure Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.