Kyle McCord shines in Syracuse’s victory with 4 touchdown passes and 385 yards against Holy Cross, winning 42-14.

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    Syracuse’s quarterback, Kyle McCord, had a standout performance, throwing four touchdowns and 385 yards in the first half, leading Syracuse to a 42-14 victory over FCS Holy Cross. McCord connected with four different receivers for his scoring passes. This marked McCord’s fourth game in his debut season at Syracuse, making him one of only six Orange quarterbacks to achieve three or more 300-yard passing performances in a career.
    In addition to McCord’s stellar performance, LeQuint Allen showcased his abilities by rushing for 81 yards and a touchdown while also catching seven passes for 54 yards. Receiver Jackson Meeks had a career-high 10 receptions for 161 yards, contributing significantly to Syracuse’s total of 520 offensive yards compared to Holy Cross’ 203 yards.
    Holy Cross’ quarterback Joe Pesansky struggled against Syracuse’s defense, completing 14 of 25 passes for 167 yards but also throwing a 33-yard interception return for a touchdown to Jayden Bellamy. Max Mosey was a bright spot for Holy Cross, making five receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown.
    Syracuse’s dominance against FCS opponents continued with this victory, maintaining their undefeated record of 22-0 in such matchups. Despite Syracuse initially taking a commanding 21-0 lead in the second quarter, Holy Cross mounted a comeback and managed to make it a competitive game, sacking McCord three times.
    Ultimately, Syracuse asserted their control before halftime, with McCord finding Trebor Pena for a 4-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 28-14. Allen’s 1-yard rushing touchdown further solidified Syracuse’s lead at 35-14 going into the fourth quarter.
    Although Holy Cross showed resilience, Syracuse’s overall performance highlighted areas for improvement, such as offensive line protection, penalties, and the field goal kicking situation. Looking ahead, Holy Cross will begin Patriot League play against Colgate, while Syracuse will travel to Las Vegas to face UNLV.