Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse football avenged last season’s embarrassing loss to Liberty with a momentous 24-21 victory on Friday.
Syracuse kicker Andre Szmyt connected on the game-winning field goal from 35 yards out to give the Orange (3-1) its third win of the season.
Check out the best and worst moments from Syracuse’s win over Liberty (3-1):
Best kick
Andre Szmyt sealed the game-winning field goal on a 35-yard attempt with one second left. It was his 61st career field goal after cementing the program’s all-time record against Albany last week.
Best first start
Garrett Shrader made his first start at quarterback for the Orange during Saturday’s game against Liberty, first reported by Stephen Bailey of 247Sports, after playing backup to Tommy DeVito for the first three games. The dual-threat transfer from Mississippi State controlled the offense well, using a mixture of short passes and quarterback keepers to impact the game. Shrader finished 6-of-15 passing for 77 yards. He carried the ball 16 times for 53 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Best defensive play
The fumble and the red zone stop. Those are the two plays that defined the Syracuse defense on Friday.
And Liberty quarterback Malik Willis found himself on the wrong end of both plays. The projected first-round NFL draft prospect took a big hit and fumbled, caused by Orange defensive lineman Cody Roscoe late in the fourth quarter, giving the ball back to SU with 3:35 remaining in the game.
Liberty also had the ball midway through the fourth quarter with a chance to take the lead on fourth-and-goal, needing only two yards for a touchdown. The play was called for Willis. Liberty’s star quarterback kept the ball and rushed to the right but was immediately taken down by Orange defensive lineman Kingsley Jonathan. It was the game’s best defensive play at that moment since Jonathan brought Willis down for a sack in the second quarter.
Best lightshow
Hey Siri, play “All of the Lights” by Kanye West. Saturday was the first night game of the season at the Carrier Dome, which allowed Syracuse to utilize its newest lighting capabilities for the first time since the university spent $118 million in renovations for the arena. The Dome’s exterior LED lights were on full display as soon as the sun set. On the inside, orange and blue lights beamed around the stadium as the team ran onto the field, following each touchdown and shortly before the fourth quarter began.
Best run
Malik Willis made his return to the Carrier Dome after beating the Orange last season. On his first drive, the Liberty quarterback showed a glimpse of why he’s so hard to defend by showing his ability to evade defender after defender. Willis was almost sacked twice by the Orange defensive line but stood his ground and gained 26 yards before SU’s Geoff Cantin-Arku tackled him to the ground. Willis finished with 49 rushing yards on 17 carries.
Best pass
Willis is known for being a dual-threat quarterback that can gain yardage on the run, but his arm is also lethal. He showed an example of this late in the second quarter when he launched a 25-yard dime to Noah Firth, setting up the Flames’ first touchdown. At first glance, it looked as if Firth caught the ball out of bounds due to pressure by Orange defensive back Garrett Williams, but Firth’s feet were just inside the sideline.
Best trick play
Liberty coach Hugh Freeze showed a little trickery late in the first quarter when Malik Willis threw a lateral pass to receiver CJ Daniels, who scrambled to the right and passed right back to Willis to gain a first down. It was another example of how Willis’ versatility can be used in more ways than the traditional passing or throwing game.
Best performance by a Syracuse player
There’s been a lot of talk recently about whether the No. 44 should be unretired and given to Sean Tucker at the conclusion of this season. That chatter is sure to continue after his performance against Liberty. Tucker tallied 32 carries for 169 rushing yards and two catches for 27 receiving yards on Friday, including a significant 26-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He used his sneaky speed to blow past four defenders on his way to the end zone.
Worst kick
Both Syracuse and Liberty missed field goals during the first quarter. Flames kicker Alex Barbir missed a manageable 36-yard field goal, while Orange kicker Andre Szmyt failed to convert on a 52-yard field goal.
Up next
Friday’s game can be looked at as a preview of what’s to come during conference play. Syracuse will look to win its third-straight game next Saturday when it starts its ACC schedule at Florida State (3:30 p.m., The ACC Network). The Seminoles (0-3) are winless after dropping games against Notre Dame, Jacksonville State and Wake Forest. That could change Saturday when FSU hosts Louisville.
Contact Mike Curtis anytime: Email | Twitter
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