In an impressive display at California’s home ground, Syracuse managed to overcome the odds with a solid 33-25 victory over the Golden Bears on Saturday. The Orange’s defense was pivotal, securing two interceptions off Fernando Mendoza and effectively neutralizing the California offense throughout the game. Meanwhile, Syracuse’s ground game emerged as a key factor, contributing substantially to their success.
Kyle McCord showcased his skills by completing 29 of 46 passes for a total of 323 yards, affirming his status as a leading quarterback in the nation. LeQuint Allen was a standout performer on the ground, rushing for 109 yards and scoring twice. Jackson Kennedy maintained his perfect streak for the season by successfully converting all four of his field goal attempts.
Syracuse initially gained a commanding lead, taking advantage of two early interceptions thrown by Mendoza. The Orange, known for their strong passing game, shifted strategies by emphasizing a more aggressive run game, amassing 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the first half. This was especially noteworthy given that the team recorded only 39 rushing yards in their previous game against Boston College.
Cal’s head coach, Justin Wilcox, expressed dissatisfaction with his team’s defensive performance, reflecting on their struggles as they headed into halftime. Despite a spectacular 75-yard touchdown run by Jaivian Thomas and a late score from Mendoza to Jonathan Brady, California’s offense remained largely ineffective. Throughout the game, the Bears managed to make only two red zone attempts, struggling significantly in this area all season with only 21 successful attempts out of 40.
Notably, Syracuse managed to protect the ball well, registering zero turnovers even though California had previously ranked first in interceptions with 54.
For California, the game marked a challenging moment. Mendoza, who previously threw for a stellar 385 yards and led the Bears to their only ACC win the week before, struggled significantly this time. He threw two interceptions and spent just over eight minutes on offense in the first half. This situation is particularly dire for the Bears, especially with key players like Jadyn Ott dealing with injuries.
On the flip side, Syracuse delivered what many consider their most well-rounded performance of the season. The offensive line, which has faced injury challenges, finally stepped up, allowing McCord to control the pace effectively. Receiver Trebor Pena also made a mark, setting a career-high with 11 receptions.
Looking ahead, Syracuse is set to host UConn in a non-conference game on Saturday. Meanwhile, California prepares to face Stanford in their first intra-conference rivalry match in the ACC this coming Saturday.