Kyle McCord throws for 4 touchdowns, 385 yards and Syracuse defeats Holy Cross 42-14

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Kyle McCord threw for four touchdowns, all in the first half, and 385 yards and Syracuse defeated FCS Holy Cross 42-14 Saturday.

McCord’s scoring passes went to four different receivers. The Ohio State transfer, just four games into his first and only Syracuse season, is already just the sixth Orange quarterback to record three or more 300-yard passing performances in a career.

LeQuint Allen ran for 81 yards and a 1-yard score and he caught seven passes for 54 yards. Jackson Meeks had a career-high 10 receptions for 161 yards to lead Syracuse. The Orange had 520 yards of total offense to 203 for the Crusaders.

Joe Pesansky was 14 of 25 for 167 yards for Holy Cross but had a 33-yard pick 6 to Jayden Bellamy. Max Mosey had five receptions for 105 yards and one score.

Syracuse is 22-0 against FCS opponents.

Syracuse (3-1) jumped out to a 21-0 lead with 14:54 to go in the second quarter. The Orange defense held the Crusaders (1-4) to three three-and outs to start the game and McCord connected on touchdown passes of seven yards to Umari Hatcher, 23 yards to Darrell Gill Jr. and a 38-yard strike to Meeks.

Syracuse outgained the Crusaders 204 to 14 yards and allowed no first downs in the first quarter.

The Orange appeared to be in total control, but the Crusaders got untracked and answered quickly in the second. Pesansky hit a wide-open Mosey down the middle at the Syracuse 32. Mosey ran it in untouched for a 63-yard score. On their next drive, running back Sam Slade received the toss from Pesansky and passed to Jacob Petersen from 27 yards out, bringing the Crusaders to 21-14 midway through the second. The Crusaders defense came alive, too, sacking McCord twice.

Syracuse regained control right before the half as McCord hit Trebor Pena on a 4-yard scoring strike to extend the Orange lead to 28-14 at the break. Allen’s 1-yard dive gave the Orange a 35-14 lead as time expired in the third.

The Takeaway:

If there are moral victories, this was it. Holy Cross made it a game, sacked McCord three times, and held their own against a FBS opponent.

Syracuse coach Fran Brown can’t be feeling good about this win. The offensive line couldn’t protect McCord, the Orange committed five penalties, and the field goal kicking situation needs to be addressed.

Up Next:

Holy Cross: The Crusaders open Patriot League play Saturday at Colgate.

Syracuse: The Orange head to Las Vegas to play UNLV Friday night.

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