The Stanford Cardinal made its ACC debut by traveling cross country to play the Syracuse Orange inside JMA Wireless Dome. Senior quarterback Kyle McCord served as the starting quarterback for the home team, while Ashton Daniels took snaps for the Cardinal.
The Orange were a healthy 8.5-home favorite coming into this game. However, by halftime, the Cardinal proved to be the better team, as it led 13-10. The game was intense in the second half as the Orange took the lead with 3:13 remaining. However, a late and successful field goal attempt from 39 yards by Emmett Kenney sealed the deal for the ACC debutants.
Stanford vs Syracuse box score
Syracuse box score
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Stanford box score
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Stanford vs Syracuse Game Summary
The first score in the game was a stunning and athletic one-handed catch from Eli Ayemanor, who received a 17-yard touchdown pass from Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels.
Emmett Kenney made a 38-yard field goal to take Stanford up 10-0. Syracuse's kicker Brady Denaburg got three points back with a 30-yard field goal. Kenney added three more again, as this time he made the game's longest 51-yard field goal. Finally, Syracuse connected one pass for the end zone. Kyle McCord made a long 67-yard touchdown pass to Umari Hatcher to cut Stanford's lead to 13-10.
The biggest moment change in the game arrived in the third quarter when Stanford's Mitch Leigber intercepted and returned for a 71-yard touchdown to take the Cardinal up 20-10. The Orange managed to cut the lead to 20-17 after McCord made a 19-yard rushing touchdown with 0:07 left on the clock in the third quarter.
Emmett Kenney again shined in the fourth quarter for the Cardinal. His first field goal from 35 yards gave Stanford a 23-17 lead. The Orange with 3:13 left on the clock got the ball in the endzone as Jackson Meeks received a 13-yard touchdown pass from Kyle McCord to give Orange their first lead in the game, 24-23.
The Cardinal decided to give Kenney a 39-yard field goal opportunity for the win. And the kicker cashed in as the Cardinal pulled over a win against betting favorite Syracuse Orange.
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