Syracuse’s First Conference Game Ends in Defeat

SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A once undefeated team walks away defeated.

Clemson defeated Syracuse 31-14 making this Clemson’s first ACC win of the season, and Syracuse’s first ACC loss of the season. The rivalry continues as Clemson remains undefeated against Syracuse since 2017. 

Clemson came in with a 2-2 record, two of those losses against conference teams. Today that did not matter as Clemson proved to be a standout team against the Orange. The Clemson team was strong on both sides of the ball. With an unbreakable offensive line, and a standout defense. Clemson matching their stats from last year with five sacks against Garrett Shrader for the second season in a row. 

Clemson’s Cade Klubnik threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns against Syracuse.

Between dropped passes by the offense and missed interceptions by the defense, the Orange had many missed opportunities. What made the Syracuse team fall short?

Nerves were one of the biggest struggles Syracuse faced, according to coach Dino Babers. Much of the team is still young, “I thought that some of the younger guys were nervous. They didn’t handle the stage, and you don’t expect that to happen,” Babers said. 

Penalties were also a big issue for Syracuse, with nine penalties costing the team 92 yards, “Some of those penalties really shaped the game, but penalties are a part of the game. They understand they are not going to get every call” Babers said, “You have to learn to deal with that, that’s just part of the adversity of the game.”

Garrett Shrader spent a lot of the game on the run as the offensive line struggled to protect him throughout the game.

Syracuse faced adversity today against Clemson in many ways, but Shrader feels the Syracuse team has no one to blame but themselves. “We beat ourselves more than they beat us today,” Shrader said. 

Syracuse will be on the road next week as they face North Carolina for their second ACC game of the season.