Our Paul A. Esden Sr provides the details on the top playmakers from the season finale vs Wake Forest on Saturday. Check them out here.
After watching Saturday’s season finale between Syracuse football and Wake Forest it’s hard not to walk away with a huge sense of pride.
This squad sent the 2019 Seniors out with a bang. They went out and played their hearts out with several plays that are ‘Play of the Year’ candidates.
Before we discuss some of those phenomenal plays, let’s address a few items.
Firstly the announcers of the game should learn the rules before looking stupid (too late for this time but a lesson for future application).
When Clayton Welch was speared in the game and a flag was thrown for targeting the announcers spent several minutes discussing how this was the wrong call.
To help you out NCAA rule 9-1-3 states that:
"“No player shall target and make forcible contact against an opponent with the crown of his helmet.”"
So when the Wake Forest defender launched himself crown of the helmet first into Clayton Welch, yes Virginia that is targeting. The officials should read up on this as well, the reason Nykiem Johnson pushed the referee (which is a no-no) is that he was blown up with a helmet to helmet hit that was not called.
Syracuse lost 30 yards of field position because of this no-call (15 for a penalty that wasn’t called and 15 for a personal foul on Nykiem as he was upset at the no call).
This awesome victory was brought to you DESPITE Dino Babers and not because of him. Once again questionable decisions almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
I completely understand why Tommy DeVito came in after the aforementioned targeting hit. But why did Syracuse continue to randomly rotate them after that?
This broke up the rhythm of the game and put it in Jeopardy. Clayton once able to play should have been put back out there and Tommy back on the sidelines.
At the end of the game, Dino played ultraconservative and played for a field goal instead of attempting to score a touchdown. Maybe no one told him you need to play to win the game? *cue Herm Edwards*.
While the Orange was driving for a potential game-ending field goal and Wake Forest trying to keep some time on the clock, Dino inexplicably called a timeout. This resulted in Wake Forest saving one for their final drive in regulation that was paramount to this game reaching overtime.
The athletic department needs to take a hard look at each game from this season and determine the best path forward for our team as it relates to the head coach. This team had the talent to win eight games but only had the coaching to win four (luckily the players spotted him this game).
But I digress… onto the jaw-dropping plays and players from today’s game:
Taj Harris played as a man possessed.
His double spin play where he broke at least a half a dozen tackles was eye-popping and if not for Moe Neal’s play later in the game would be a guaranteed top play of the week on ESPN. He followed that up later in the game with a key 38-yard reception that turned momentum late in the game.
You can WATCH the play here.
One of the keys to the game was to feed Moe Neal and for once the plea was heard. The senior would not be arm tackled or go down easily, carrying the ball 20 times for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Andre Cisco grabbing his fifth interception of the year (12th of his career) recovered a fumble and broke up several passes on key plays.
Lakiem Williams seemed to be everywhere on the field leading the Orange in tackles (as he has done so the entire year and finished in the top-five in tackles in the ACC) and causing a key fumble early in the game.
Clayton Welch, the senior backup QB for the Orange, got a surprise start as Tommy DeVito who had recovered from knee injury got injured during practice this week when a teammate stepped on his foot. Clayton came off the bench and played well showing guts and determination in his last game playing for the Orange.
Trishton Jackson once again produced key catches grabbing 10 balls for 111 yards and a touchdown. This year may not have turned out the way Trishton Jackson envisioned when he came to Syracuse as a transfer, but he has been instrumental in the Orange’s limited success this year.
The Orange willed themselves to victory, just when doubt began to creep in during the first overtime with Wake Forest driving first and goal to go and a touchdown seeming inevitable to send the Orange back to the familiar 4-8 record.
Kendall Hinton who seemingly had every key play for the Deacons caught a pass and then out of nowhere sophomore Trill Williams ripped the ball out of his hands and didn’t stop until 94 yards later sealing an Orange Victory!
This is the Orange team that we all had envisioned that would return us to the glory from last year. Alas, that was not to be but this team was determined to lay it all on the line and go out with a bang! Thank you for giving it your all and I can’t wait for next year.