LeQuint Allen ran for two touchdowns and Kyle McCord threw for 323 yards and a score as visiting Syracuse topped California 33-25 on Saturday in Berkeley, Calif.
Allen finished with 23 carries for 109 yards, Jackson Meeks caught a touchdown pass and Trebor Pena chipped in 11 catches for 97 yards for the Orange (7-3, 4-3 ACC). Syracuse had dropped two of its previous three games.
The Bears (5-5, 1-5) had won two in a row entering Saturday, but Fernando Mendoza threw two early interceptions and the Cal defense couldn’t get enough stops. Mendoza finished 22 of 34 for 225 yards with a late touchdown, while Jaydn Ott ran 11 times for 78 yards and a score.
Syracuse dominated the first quarter, outgaining Cal 117-29 en route to a 6-0 lead. Jackson Kennedy kicked two of his four field goals in the quarter, and both of Mendoza’s picks were in the first as well.
Mendoza’s second interception set up the first touchdown of the game — a 30-yard run by Allen that made it 13-0 early in the second quarter.
However, the Bears didn’t need much time to answer. Jaivian Thomas took off untouched for a 75-yard touchdown on the second play of the ensuing drive to get the hosts within 13-7.
The visitors had their own answer, though, as they marched 75 yards in nine plays, capped by Allen’s 1-yard scoring plunge.
Then following a Cal punt, the Orange embarked on another scoring drive. McCord found Meeks for 6 yards on fourth-and-3, and then the duo connected again on the next play for a 6-yard touchdown pass.
Cal missed a 48-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, but the Bears dented the scoreboard midway through the third quarter on Ott’s 15-yard touchdown run, making it 27-14.
The Orange countered with Kennedy’s 43-yard field goal — the team’s sixth straight scoring possession to open the game. Kennedy’s 32-yard field goal with 3:12 left in the game essentially sealed the deal.
The Bears got into the end zone with 1:01 remaining, but Syracuse recovered the ensuing onside kick.
–Field Level Media
