Syracuse Orange vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons Football Recap

Syracuse 36, Wake Forest 29 (OT) 

There are 15-point comebacks, and then there are 15-point comebacks. Yes, a 15-point margin is only a two-possession lead in the sport of football, but when Syracuse University does the deed at home, it’s worth noticing.
 
The outlook was so particularly bleak for the Syracuse Orange as Thursday night deepened in upstate New York. Syracuse's last win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in the Carrier Dome was a 31-13 upset of Rutgers in November 2009. Syracuse was 0-4 last season against FBS teams on its own field and hadn't generated a winning season at home since it posted a 4-1 mark in 2004. Therefore, when Wake Forest took a 29-14 lead in the fourth quarter, the prospects for SU had to be slim to none. 
 
Then all hell broke loose, which was a heavenly development for Syracuse fans who were just returning from a miraculous season in which the program came out of nowhere to make and win a bowl game. As was the case with the Orange in 2010, the 2011 edition somehow found a way to exceed expectations and rise above difficult circumstances to achieve something special.

Syracuse’s Van Chew made a diving 4-yard touchdown catch in the left flat at the goal line on the first series of overtime, and Syracuse rallied past Wake Forest 36-29 on Thursday night in the season opener for both teams.

The Demon Deacons got the ball one last time, in the midst of their late-stage free-fall, but the Syracuse defense held for one of the few times on the night and forced a fourth-down incompletion from the 19. A toss from Wake quarterback Ted Stachitas to teammate Chris Givens in the right corner of the end zone was off the mark, and with that, the improbable comeback was complete for SU.

Kevyn Scott appeared to secure the victory for Syracuse when he made a diving interception over the middle at the Wake Forest 32 with just over 5 minutes remaining and the game tied at 29. However, Ross Krautman, who had made a school-record 16 straight field goals, had his 32-yard attempt blocked by Kyle Wilber with just under 3 minutes to go in regulation. Syracuse simply refused to make things easy for its own self, not just Wake Forest – that’s part of the Orange’s identity. What’s different, though, compared to 2009 and previous years is that the Orange now dig out wins instead of playing the “what-if” game.

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By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer