Missed Opportunities Cost Syracuse at UNC
The Syracuse defense forced three turnovers and sacked North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell twice, but it was not enough for the Orange to pull off the upset on Saturday. The 18th ranked Tar Heels topped Syracuse 31-6 in the season opener for both teams.
North Carolina started strong, with a touchdown on its opening drive as Howell hit tight end Garrett Walston for an 11-yard score. That would be the last time UNC would see the end zone until the fourth quarter. The twenty-one point favorites entered the final fifteen minutes with a narrow 10-6 lead, but that wouldn't last long as the floodgates began to open.
UNC tripled their touchdown output in the fourth quarter, handing the ball off to RB Javonte Willams and letting him pound it in all three times. Williams finished the game with 57-yards on the ground, averaging just over 4-yards per carry. Williams' counter-punch, RB Michael Carter, chipped in 78-yards on seven carries as well.
Heisman hopeful Sam Howell did not start his sophomore season quite the way he ended his freshman campaign. Howell looked uncomfortable against Syracuse's new 3-3-5 defense, piloted by DC Tony White. The second-year slinger completed 25 of his 34 passes, but only tallied 295-yards through the air and managed just one passing touchdown.
Where the defense excelled, however, the offense sputtered. Syracuse missed golden opportunities to take control of a game that was well within reach throughout. A Mikel Jones interception set the Orange up with a first down at the UNC 31-yard line. They failed on a fourth-down conversion, though, and didn't score. Later in the half, North Carolina muffed a punt and Syracuse recovered at the Tar Heels' 21-yard line. Gifted with their best scoring chance of the day, Syracuse could only come away with a field goal after Sharod Johnson dropped a pass in the end zone.
Syracuse strung together its best drive of the game late in the first half, marching 79-yards in fourteen plays. The Orange made it all the way inside the Tar Heels' 10 yard line before stalling yet again. This time, Cuse kicker Andre Szmyt missed a chip-shot field goal and Syracuse went into halftime trailing 7-3.
The Orange defense continued supplying chance after chance for their offensive teammates. In the third quarter, Andre Cisco snagged his 13th career interception. The takeaway opened the door for DeVito and the offense as they got as close as the five-yard line. Fifteen-feet from seven points, Syracuse settled for another field goal.
Special teams could have been a huge X-factor in the outcome, but an Orange punt return for a touchdown was called back thanks to an illegal blindside block.
Failure to sustain drives on offense eventually gave way to being worn down on defense. What had been a one-score game most of the way fizzled into a twenty-five point pounding.
DeVito did not turn it over, but completed just 13 of his 31 attempts for 112 yards. He led Syracuse in rushing with 30 yards. Taj Harris led Syracuse with five receptions for 64 yards.
The offensive line struggled for Syracuse, failing to get a push on the ground as the Orange averaged less than two yards per carry and allowed seven sacks. Rex Culpepper took over late, and went 3-7 for 22 yards and an interception.
North Carolina finished with 463 total yards to just 202 for Syracuse.
Syracuse falls to 0-1 (0-1) on the season, and play at Pittsburgh next week. That game will kick at noon and be broadcast on the ACC Network.
