Syracuse Football: Despite loss to Liberty, some players had strong outings

Let’s take a look at the Syracuse football players who put forth nice performances in the team’s 38-21 setback to Liberty over the weekend.

Syracuse football fell to 1-4 this past Saturday afternoon on the Hill after a 38-21 defeat at the hands of non-conference foe and unbeaten squad Liberty.

Even amid this disappointing result for the Orange, whose loss to FBS football independent Liberty is probably one of the worst showings for the ‘Cuse in recent years, multiple Syracuse football players did excel on the field.

Running back Sean Tucker, the freshman who has continued to move up the depth chart at this position, notched his second 100-yard contest of the 2020 stanza, as he tallied 111 rushing yards on 21 carries, according to statistics posted on ESPN.com.

Reserve quarterback Rex Culpepper, getting the start versus the Flames due to an injury suffered by Tommy DeVito, recorded three touchdown passes and 211 passing yards, per ESPN.com.

Culpepper’s completion percentage didn’t prove great, as he went 19-of-40 in the air, however, registering a trio of passing scores is something to praise.

Wide receivers Taj Harris and Anthony Queeley, along with tight end Aaron Hackett, did fairly well, as all three caught a passing touchdown from Culpepper.

Harris had nine receptions for 96 yards, Queeley hauled in five passes for 77 yards, and Hackett landed two catches for 25 yards, according to a cuse.com announcement.

Syracuse football may have lost to Liberty, but a group of Orange players boasted excellent performances even in defeat.

On the defensive side of the field, linebacker Mikel Jones continues to shine. Against the Flames, Jones produced his fifth takeaway of the fall term, as he recovered a fumble and had eight tackles, per cuse.com.

Other linebackers who turned in commendable efforts are Marlowe Wax and Lee Kpogba, who each managed a sack, and Tyrell Richards, who paced the ‘Cuse with nine total tackles.

It’s well-documented how exceptional Syracuse football keeps on proving in the turnovers-gained department, and that held true this past Saturday in Central New York.

Unfortunately, much like the rest of the 2020 campaign prior to the Liberty encounter, the Orange often isn’t converting these takeaways into touchdowns.