Syracuse Football: Top performers for 'Cuse in thrilling road win over No. 25 UNLV

Syracuse football began its month of October, which will be entirely on the road, in an exhilarating manner.

The Orange, on Friday night in Las Vegas, went back and forth with No. 25 UNLV in a game that surely gave many 'Cuse fans, myself included, some anxiety. Syracuse football played far from a perfect contest, but the Orange showed a ton of determination, grit and heart in knocking off the previously undefeated Rebels (4-1) by a final count of 44-41, in overtime.

On Friday evening in the Sin City, the 'Cuse offense hummed along fairly well. The team's defense had its ups and downs but did make key stops here and there. The Orange's kicking game, thankfully, was solid, although the punting unit definitely has work to do.

Regardless, a win is a win. And this is the second instance to date in the 2024 season where Syracuse football (4-1) defeated an opponent that at the time was nationally ranked in the major top-25 polls. Per SU Athletics, Friday's result marked the first road victory for the 'Cuse over a top-25 team since 2010, when the Orange triumphed at No. 20 West Virginia.

Top Syracuse football performers in the team's victory at No. 25 UNLV.

•I'm stating the obvious, but this non-conference affair starts and ends with junior running back LeQuint Allen Jr. Despite being a bit banged up for part of this encounter, Allen went full beast mode against the Rebels. He had a combined 129 rushing and receiving yards while scoring four times. He made a critical 4th-down conversion during the Orange's game-tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, and Allen won this contest for the 'Cuse with a short TD run in overtime. He was, simply put, tremendous.

•Yasin Willis, the freshman running back and 2024 four-star prospect from New Jersey, is going to be a star on the Hill. With redshirt junior running back Will Nixon out against UNLV, Willis got a bunch of touches, especially with Allen also getting banged up during Friday's game. Willis made the most of his minutes, carrying the ball eight times for 62 yards, or 7.8 yards per carry, while notching his first career touchdown in college.

•After being relatively quiet by his standards over the past two games, redshirt junior tight end Oronde Gadsden II delivered the goods versus the Rebels. He hauled in team-highs of 10 catches for 142 yards. Without question, senior quarterback Kyle McCord is doing an excellent job this term at spreading the ball around to his large group of talented receivers, however, Gadsden was Mr. Dependable on Friday night in the Vegas.

•Speaking of McCord, he went 40-of-63 for 355 yards through the air, with three touchdown passes and an interception. He connected with five different receivers on at least four catches each, and McCord has now thrown for 300-plus yards in five straight contests, which is a program record. That being said, I do think that 63 pass attempts are way too many. I'd like to see more balance between the run and passing attacks.

•While the Orange's punting unit struggled, the 'Cuse kicking game was good. Last weekend, Syracuse football kickers were a combined 0-of-3 on field goals in the squad's home victory versus Holy Cross. Against UNLV, redshirt freshman Jadyn Oh was 1-of-1 on field goal attempts and he was also 5-of-5 in extra-point tries.

•On defense, redshirt junior defensive back Duce Chestnut tallied four total tackles and had a key interception in the third quarter that in part helped get Syracuse football rolling after halftime.

•Senior edge rusher Fadil Diggs, the transfer from Texas A&M, registered six total tackles along with two critical sacks. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Jayden Bellamy led the Orange with seven total tackles, including four solo ones.

•Senior defensive back Alijah Clark, senior defensive back Justin Barron, who has been playing a lot at linebacker of late, and redshirt junior linebacker Derek McDonald all had six total tackles and at least three solo tackles a piece.

•I want to add this. After starting out the 2024 campaign with four consecutive games on the Hill, Syracuse football will be on the road for all of October, and the 'Cuse also has back-to-back road meetings in November, including another trip out west to face California. That's a lot of traveling for our boys in Orange. On Friday evening, Syracuse football made some mistakes, but the 'Cuse also persevered against an undefeated foe in UNLV that has aspirations of winning the Mountain West Conference and possibly landing a bid to the 12-team College Football Playoff. I give a ton of credit to first-year head coach Fran Brown, his top-flight staff, and the Orange roster for continuing to fight versus the Rebels and come away with an important, exciting, nerve-wracking road success.

•Up next, Syracuse football will head to Raleigh, N.C., to play at N.C. State on Saturday, Oct. 12, in a primetime match-up that will begin at 8 pm on the ACC Network. The Wolfpack (3-2), on Saturday afternoon, was hosting Wake Forest at the time that I wrote this column.