Photo by: Charles Wainwright
#TBT: 'Cuse Tops USF in Thriller
10/8/2015 2:31:00 PM | Football
Syracuse heads into this weekend's non-conference clash with USF having won its last two road games against Bulls. Cuse.com takes a look back at the last time Syracuse and USF met at Raymond James Stadium. The date was Oct. 27, 2012 and there was certainly some drama.
TAMPA, Fla. – Syracuse overcame a 20-point halftime deficit and capped a record-setting comeback with Ryan Nassib's 1-yard touchdown pass to Alec Lemon with three seconds left on the clock to beat USF, 37-36, at Raymond James Stadium.
The rally marked the largest comeback in the school record books, which date back to 1942.
Nassib completed 27 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns. It was his fourth 300-yard passing game of 2012, and the comeback marked the eighth time in Nassib's career he led the Orange to victory when trailing in the fourth quarter.
Jerome Smith was SU's leading rusher, gaining 127 yards on a career-high 28 carries.
Seniors Shamarko Thomas and Deon Goggins spearheaded the defense, making nine tackles apiece. Thomas also recovered a fumble in the third quarter that set up an Orange touchdown.
Down 23-3, the Orange emerged from the locker room for the second half and erased the 20-point gap in the span of 8:50.
Nassib engineered a seven-play, 84-yard march on the opening possession of the third quarter that ended on his 31-yard touchdown pass to Jarrod West. Ross Krautman's extra point narrowed the margin to 23-10.
On the ensuing series, Durell Eskridge knifed through the USF line and blocked Justin Brockhaus-Kann's punt to give Syracuse the ball at the Bulls' 45-yard line. Five plays later the Orange was in the end zone, courtesy of a 5-yard run by Lemon. Krautman's conversion made it 23-17.
USF running back Demetri Murray fumbled on the next offensive play and Thomas recovered at the USF 25-yard line. Nassib threw a 5-yard TD pass to Marcus Sales and just like that the Orange had its first lead, 24-23.
The hosts regained their composure and took back the lead when Malkon Bonani kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the third, putting USF back in front, 26-24.
The two sides traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter before Bonani's fifth field goal of the game, a 47-yarder, made the score 36-31 with 1:23 to go.
That set the stage for Nassib, who hit West for 19 yards on first down and hooked up with Sales for 20 yards on the following play to quickly move the Orange into Bulls' territory. After two incompletions, Nassib found Sales for another 20-yard gain and key third-down conversion to the USF 16. A 6-yard completion to Lemon, followed by consecutive penalties, moved the Orange back to the 20-yard line, but with timing winding down Nassib went back to Sales who made the catch and was tackled at 1-yard line with six seconds remaining.
Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone called timeout. After talking it over, Nassib sprinted right on the restart and spotted Lemon in the end zone for the game-winning score with three seconds left to complete the comeback and give the Orange its fourth win of the season.
Daniels finished with 317 total yards (183 passing, 134 rushing) for USF. The Bulls' Lindsey Lamar also rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown.
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TAMPA, Fla. – Syracuse overcame a 20-point halftime deficit and capped a record-setting comeback with Ryan Nassib's 1-yard touchdown pass to Alec Lemon with three seconds left on the clock to beat USF, 37-36, at Raymond James Stadium.
The rally marked the largest comeback in the school record books, which date back to 1942.
Nassib completed 27 passes for 328 yards and four touchdowns. It was his fourth 300-yard passing game of 2012, and the comeback marked the eighth time in Nassib's career he led the Orange to victory when trailing in the fourth quarter.
Jerome Smith was SU's leading rusher, gaining 127 yards on a career-high 28 carries.
Seniors Shamarko Thomas and Deon Goggins spearheaded the defense, making nine tackles apiece. Thomas also recovered a fumble in the third quarter that set up an Orange touchdown.
Down 23-3, the Orange emerged from the locker room for the second half and erased the 20-point gap in the span of 8:50.
Nassib engineered a seven-play, 84-yard march on the opening possession of the third quarter that ended on his 31-yard touchdown pass to Jarrod West. Ross Krautman's extra point narrowed the margin to 23-10.
On the ensuing series, Durell Eskridge knifed through the USF line and blocked Justin Brockhaus-Kann's punt to give Syracuse the ball at the Bulls' 45-yard line. Five plays later the Orange was in the end zone, courtesy of a 5-yard run by Lemon. Krautman's conversion made it 23-17.
USF running back Demetri Murray fumbled on the next offensive play and Thomas recovered at the USF 25-yard line. Nassib threw a 5-yard TD pass to Marcus Sales and just like that the Orange had its first lead, 24-23.
The hosts regained their composure and took back the lead when Malkon Bonani kicked a 41-yard field goal with 2:15 left in the third, putting USF back in front, 26-24.
The two sides traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter before Bonani's fifth field goal of the game, a 47-yarder, made the score 36-31 with 1:23 to go.
That set the stage for Nassib, who hit West for 19 yards on first down and hooked up with Sales for 20 yards on the following play to quickly move the Orange into Bulls' territory. After two incompletions, Nassib found Sales for another 20-yard gain and key third-down conversion to the USF 16. A 6-yard completion to Lemon, followed by consecutive penalties, moved the Orange back to the 20-yard line, but with timing winding down Nassib went back to Sales who made the catch and was tackled at 1-yard line with six seconds remaining.
Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone called timeout. After talking it over, Nassib sprinted right on the restart and spotted Lemon in the end zone for the game-winning score with three seconds left to complete the comeback and give the Orange its fourth win of the season.
Daniels finished with 317 total yards (183 passing, 134 rushing) for USF. The Bulls' Lindsey Lamar also rushed for 145 yards and a touchdown.
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