Syracuse Costs Hurricanes ACC Title Game

     The University of Miami Hurricanes were halted by the Syracuse University Orange 42-38 at JMA Wireless Dome on Saturday. The Hurricanes failed to reach the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game. 

     The Canes finished third in the conference standings.  They were trying for their second appearance in the ACC title contest since they joined the conference in 2004.

     Miami(10-2, 6-2) reached the end zone in their first possession at the 10:46 mark. Running back Mark Fletcher was able to rush it in from two yards out.

     It became 14-0 for the Canes with 3:43 left in the first. Quarterback Cam Ward threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Xavier Restrepo on the right sideline. 

     The Hurricanes increased their lead to 21-0 at 12:57 of the second quarter. Tight end Elijah Arroyo caught a three-yard pass from Ward in the front of the end zone. 

     Syracuse(9-3, 5-3) cut it to 21-7 at the 10:54 mark of the second. Running back LeQuint Allen Jr. bumped his way up the middle from eight yards.

     The Orange closed it to 21-14 with 3:41 remaining in the first half. Quarterback Kyle McCord tossed a nine-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jackson Meeks on the left side of the end zone. 

     In the second half, Syracuse tied it up 21-21 just 39 seconds into the third quarter. McCord connected a 25-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Trebor Pena in the front right corner of the end zone. 

     The U regained the lead 28-21 at 11:02 of the third. Fletcher rumbled in on another two-yard touchdown run 

     It became a tie game 28-28 with 7:47 to go in the quarter. Meeks received an eight-yard touchdown pass from McCord. 

     The Orange capitalized on a turnover by the Canes offense with 1:47 left in the third. Defensive back Devin Grant stripped Restrepo of the ball and returned it 56 yards for a score to give them their first lead of the contest 35-28. 

     Miami evened it up 35-35 at the 13:02 mark of the fourth quarter. Running back Damien Martinez plunged up the middle from two yards away on a touchdown run.

     Syracuse answered back on their next possession to go ahead 42-35 at 9:16. Allen raced through the right side of the line from three yards out. 

     The Canes were held out of the end zone on their next drive. Andres Borregales was able to kick a 27-yard field goal and they trailed 42-38 with 3:43 remaining.