Syracuse Orange vs Toledo Rockets Football Recap

Syracuse 33, Toledo 30 (OT)

There have been some very bizarre, baffling and brain-busting replay-review failures in the past decade of college football’s embrace of replay technology. Somehow, an LSU interception of Alabama was not confirmed two years ago. Somehow, an illegal onside kick was ruled to be legal in the 2006 Oklahoma-Oregon football game. Now, there’s a third entry in the annals of all-time replay-review blunders: The missed extra point that was somehow ruled good. It towered over the proceedings this past weekend in upstate New York. The Toledo Rockets won’t soon forget this remarkable display of ineptitude from a replay reviewer.

Controversy marred what was a very exciting game between Syracuse and Toledo at the Carrier Dome. After Toledo jumped out to a 10-0 lead, the teams exchanged the lead five more times and a Ross Krautman field goal in overtime gave the Orange a much needed 33-30 overtime win over a Toledo team that had put up a respectable fight against Ohio State and Boise State the two weeks prior. The controversy came at the end of the fourth quarter. Syracuse's point after attempt appeared to sail wide to the left; the ball clearly traveled in front of the upright, not behind it. The missed kick should have kept the score 29-27 in favor of Syracuse. Instead, the extra point was ruled good and the call was upheld on review, making the score 30-27. Toledo subsequently drove down and kicked a field goal that sent the game to overtime, but with the Big East conference now publicly admitting that the call on the extra point attempt was wrong, Rockets coaches and administrators maintain that the game should be vacated since their late field goal should have been for the win rather than just to tie and force the overtime where they ultimately lost.

The improbable win covered up what was yet another shaky outing for the Orange. Syracuse has needed late rallies in all three wins over Wake Forest, Rhode Island, and now Toledo and the Orange were barely competitive with USC a week ago. Toledo's misdirection offense confused and wore down the depleted Syracuse defense. Wide receiver Eric Page, who troubled Ohio State equally two weeks ago, torched the Syracuse defense for 13 catches and 158 yards. The Rockets outgained the Orange 433 to 366 on the day, but could not stop Ryan Nassib from leading a fourth quarter drive that temporarily gave the Orange the lead. On the day, Nassib threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns while Antwon Bailey finally had some success on the ground, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown. Syracuse will get another test this week as star wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and the Rutgers offense comes to the Carrier Dome.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer