Syracuse rallies to force overtime and beat No. 25 UNLV 44-41, spoiling Rebels' poll debut
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs the ball by UNLV linebacker Jackson Woodard (7) in the second half during an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Rick Scuteri
LAS VEGAS — LeQuint Allen told Syracuse coach Fran Brown in the first half that the pain in his lower left leg was an eight out of 10. He also said he wasn’t coming out of the game.
Good thing for the Orange, as Allen powered into the end zone from a yard out in overtime to give Syracuse a 44-41 victory over No. 25 UNLV on Friday night, four days after the Rebels broke into the AP Top 25 for the first time in program history.
“Just putting it all on the line for my team,” Allen said. “At the end of the day, if I can run and I can jog, I still want to go out there for my team. Nobody’s bigger than ‘The S.'”
After Caden Chittenden made a 41-yard field goal to give the Rebels (4-1) a 41-38 lead in overtime, the Orange (4-1) used eight plays and walked it off with Allen’s fourth touchdown of the game, as the 200-pound running back dragged UNLV’s 230-pound linebacker Jackson Woodard for roughly four seconds before plunging into the end zone.
Allen rushed 19 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns, and had nine catches for 58 yards and two more scores.
“He’s been doing that, that’s just what he does — that’s LeQuint,” Brown said. “Never stops talking, never stops just wanting the football. He’s never not open. He’s a competitive guy.”
Kyle McCord, who transferred in from Ohio State during the offseason, was 40 of 63 for 355 yards, with three touchdowns and one interception for Syracuse. Oronde Gadsen II hauled in 10 passes for 142 yards for the Orange — both career highs.
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) scores a touchdown over UNLV defensive back Tony Grimes, bottom, in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Rick Scuteri
UNLV’s Hajj-Malik Williams completed 21 of 25 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Ricky White III had 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. The receiving star also forced Syracuse punter Jack Stonehouse to abort an item and then later blocked a punt, his second of the season.
“Looking at what this team did, we really didn’t start well and stayed in the fight,” UNLV coach Barry Odom said. “I hate it because we got a tough team, got great young men. We’re close, but this will get us closer. I have no doubt about that.”
With 31,329 in attendance — the third-highest since UNLV began playing at Allegiant Stadium in 2020 — the back-and-forth marathon featured four lead changes and three ties.
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams (6) looks to throw downfield against Syracuse in the first half during an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. Credit: AP/Rick Scuteri
Syracuse struck first after McCord completed all seven attempts during a nine-play drive, capped by a shovel pass Allen, who darted in from 8 yards out to put the Orange ahead 7-0 midway through the first quarter. The Orange pushed the lead to 14-0 on Allen’s second touchdown of the game.
UNLV had outscored its previous four opponents by a combined score of 52-14 in the first quarter, leading in three of the games after the first. But the Rebels found their groove in the second quarter and outscored Syracuse 21-3 to take a 21-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Syracuse went right to work in the third quarter, as it took the opening drive of the second half and drove 75 yards in 12 plays, capped off by McCord’s 6-yard strike to Allen, as the Orange regained the lead, 24-21.
One play after Syracuse safety Duce Chestnut picked off Williams at the UNLV 20, it was Orange running back Yasin Willis racing unbothered for 21 yards to extend the lead to 10, at 31-21.
UNLV would tie it thanks to Chittenden's field goal and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown — its second in two weeks — and then took a 38-31 lead on White’s 9-yard TD reception.
Trailing by seven with less than three minutes left, the Orange drove 75 yards in 11 plays to tie it, with Jackson Meeks catching a 6-yard TD pass with 23 seconds left.
The Rebels chose to kneel on their first play of the final drive in regulation, sending UNLV to its first overtime game since 2021, a triple-overtime loss to Eastern Washington.
The takeaway
White came into the season billed as an All-America candidate at wide receiver but continues to make plays on special teams. He's the first Rebel to block two punts in a season since Ronnie Smith had two in 2006.
Poll implications
UNLV will likely lose its spot in the rankings after suffering its first loss of the season.
Up next
Syracuse: At N.C. State on Oct. 12
UNLV: At Utah State on Oct. 11.
