LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Syracuse (4-7, 1-6 Atlantic Coast) couldn’t escape an early deficit and lost 56-34 to Louisville on Saturday at Cardinal Stadium. The Orange trailed 21-3 in the first quarter and would never bring the margin closer than 11 in a loss that takes a bowl game out of their hands. Louisville (7-4, 5-3) out-gained Syracuse 608 yards to 510 yards and scored on four of its six second half drives in the shootout. 

Here are three takeaways from the Orange’s loss.

Football game or track meet?

Seven of the game’s 12 touchdowns came from 20 yards or more. At times, the football game between the 107th- and 115th-worst defenses in the country looked more like a track meet. The Cardinals finished the game averaging 21.6 yards per completion while running back Javian Hawkins ran 23 times for 233 yards and a touchdown. 

The long plays came from every fashion. Louisville quarterback Micale Cunningham ran for one, a 20-yard quarterback keeper, and threw for five more — including a 90-yard touchdown launch to wide receiver Tutu Atwell. Syracuse had its share of explosive plays too. Some came from the usual suspect Trishton Jackson, who finished with three catches for 64 yards, but they also came from the unexpected. 

Freshman running back Jawhar Jordan, who suited up for Syracuse for the fourth time this year, returned three kicks for 101 yards and added 87 yards receiving as a part of his 223 total yards. 

Taking it all away

A dropped punt shifted Syracuse’s final chance at controlling its own bowl destiny. On Louisville’s first possession, the Cardinals drove down and scored on the kind of dominating drive that looked like it’ll continue all day. That wasn’t the case though, at least not initially. On the next series, Syracuse stopped Louisville short of a first down on three straight plays but Syracuse receiver Sean Riley dropped the ensuing punt. 

The Cardinals scooped possession, and instead of Syracuse retaining the ball down 7-3, Louisville had the ball 43 yards further up the field. On the next play, Cunningham connected with Seth Dawkins for a 29-yard touchdown pass. 

On the Cardinals next possession, Syracuse had a chance to make up for its giveaway. As Alton Robinson clobbered Cunningham and the ball soared deep, two Syracuse players had a chance at an interception. But Antwan Cordy and Evan Foster collided and the ball bounced on the turf. 

Four plays later, Louisville ran in its third first-quarter touchdown. 

Close but no cigar 

Syracuse hung around with Louisville for most of the night but couldn’t finish when it had opportunities to change momentum. The first chance of the second half to alter the game’s outcome came on an onside kick. Holder Nolan Cooney, replacing an injured Sterling Hofrichter, nearly executed a perfect onside kick. 

Cooney pounded the ball into the ground and chased after the kick himself. It looked like he recovered it right at the 10-yard marker that would make the kick legal. Upon review, the referees ruled that a Syracuse player illegally blocked a Louisville player and a re-kick granted the Cardinals possession. 

Still, Syracuse had its chances in the fourth quarter. With the ball deep in the Louisville zone and a 4th-down looming, quarterback Tommy DeVito was relieved by Clayton Welch. His throw fell a few yards short on a crossing route that could’ve earned the Orange a first down. 

A later 4th-down-and-goal garnered a similar result. The ball went deep, just not deep enough. Taj Harris caught the ball inside the five-yard line but was tackled before the end zone. Syracuse had fallen short again.

Published on November 23, 2019 at 7:45 pm

Contact Josh: jlschafe@syr.edu | @Schafer_44