Syracuse football engineers another game-winning drive to remain undefeated (final score, recap)

Syracuse, N.Y. — The Syracuse football team takes on the Virginia Cavaliers at 7 p.m. Friday in the JMA Wireless Dome.

The game will be televised on ESPN.

See in-game team and individual stats here.

Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. Virginia to see the latest updates

Final score: Syracuse 22, Virginia 20

Syracuse uses more fourth-quarter magic to remain unbeaten on the season.

The Orange led 16-0 at halftime, then watched its lead whittle down to 16-13 before Garrett Shrader even touched the ball in the second half.

It was that kind of night.

What started out as a promising night — SU drove down the field and scored on its opening possession — turned into a white-knuckle affair that didn’t relent until Eric Coley’s pass breakup on a last-gasp fourth-down throw late in the game.

Coley’s role on the decisive play is so fitting.

He’s the sixth-year senior who elected to remain with the team for his final season after his dad, former defensive line coach Vince Reynolds, was fired at the end of last season.

Coley was also thrust into a prominent role on a night the Orange defense got depleted by injuries and other attrition.

SU came in as a double-digit favorite by some sportsbooks. By the end of the night, it just wanted to get out of here unscathed.

Wagner, an FCS opponent that has lost 23 games in a row, is next.

Syracuse will almost certainly coast to a 5-0 start — its best start since the unbeaten season in 1987 — before getting a week off and hosting North Carolina State on Oct. 15.

It will need it.

Fourth quarter

Virginia drive starts 1:08 at own 29-yard line

Virginia has no timeouts left.

Armstrong scampers for a first down and gets out of bounds after the 12-yard gain.

Armstrong and Wicks aren’t on the same page on a deep shot down the UVA sideline.

With 57 seconds to play, Armstrong scrambles and is met by Mikel Jones, who wraps him up just shy of midfield.

Anwar Sparrow, one of the reserves thrust into action, drops a potential game-sealing interception.

On 4th-and-4 with 31 seconds remaining, Eric Coley, a sixth-year senior who stayed at SU after his dad got fired after last season, makes the game-sealing PBU.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 22, Virginia 20 with 1:14 remaining fourth quarter

Syracuse drive starts 5:51 at own 25-yard line

Sean Tucker with no where to go on first down. SU’s run game is in disarray.

Shrader moves the sticks on a completion to Gadsden, who has had a quiet second half.

On 3rd-and-7, Shrader is sacked for the sixth time. It comes, however, via a facemask penalty, extending the drive and pushing the ball past midfield.

A week after Purdue handed the Orange the game, Virginia is dealing SU a favor here late in the fourth quarter.

On the next play, Shrader and Tucker hook up down the right sideline. Tucker contorts his body to make a tough grab.

Shrader keeps it on the option play to the far side of the field. He had Tucker with some open turf, but it results in a 2-yard gain.

Tucker finally breaks through the line for a 9-yard gain and a first down.

Babers and the coaches are running clock feeding it to Tucker. He’s down to the 13-yard line after a 5-yard gain.

Virginia is offsides, and SU is up to the UVA 13-yard line with 90 seconds to play.

Shrader takes a huge 17-yard loss on yet another sack. Virginia uses its second timeout with 1:24 remaining in regulation.

Virginia uses its final timeout with 1:17 remaining.

Syracuse’s Andre Szmyt will attempt a go-ahead, 31-yard field goal.

He makes his fifth field goal of the night.

SCORE UPDATE: Virginia 20, Syracuse 19 with 5:51 remaining fourth quarter

Virginia drive starts 9:48 at own 25-yard line

Not great. Alijah Clark is being helped off the field. Syracuse’s secondary depth is being tested. Barron (ejection), Clark (injury) and Carter (injury) all won’t finish the game. The Orange also lost Terry Lockett tonight, and Derek McDonald and Stefon Thompson are DNPs.

Armstrong gets the ball out quick to Thompson for a first down in SU territory. Replay showing Kaytaon Thompson’s knee may have been down when he made the catch. That 12-yard gain stands after review.

Perris Jones is down to the 6-yard line. SU’s defense is a shell of itself as a result of attrition.

First-and-goal: Jones meets Jones for a short, 2-yard gain and a helicopter spin on the hit.

Second-and-goal: Garrett Williams provides coverage on a shot in the back right corner to Lavel Davis Jr.

Third-and-goal: Armstrong and Wicks aren’t on the same page. Duce Chestnut was in coverage.

Fourth-and-goal: Armstrong fires a dart in to Davis for the touchdown.

Virginia has its first lead of the game with less than 6 minutes to play in regulation.

Syracuse drive starts 12:51 at own 20-yard line

Tucker moves the chains, and SU can run clock. What started out to be such a promising night and turned into a get-the-hell-out-of-here-and-get-to-4-0 night.

Syracuse will punt it away after a penalty-riddled drive, and Virginia, hanging around, can seize the lead with a touchdown.

Virginia drive starts 13:01 at SU’s 36-yard line

And ... Virginia gives it right back.

Garrett Williams with his second interception of the season.

Syracuse drive starts 14:05 at own 15-yard line

Shrader misses connecting with Gadsden down the middle of the field on the first play of the drive. On 3rd-and-4, Shrader takes off, gets tangled up, then, at the last second, flicks it out to Courtney Jackson for a first down.

What a huge play to move the chains. All instincts. Exactly what Shrader brings. Officials will peek to see if Jackson fumbled or if the ground caused the ball to pop loose, as was the ruling on the field.

After review, Jackson *did* fumble before he was down. Virginia takes over. That is Syracuse’s fourth turnover of the game.

It’s been a so-so night for Shrader. He’s been sacked five times but is up to 243 yards.

Virginia drive starts 0:24 (third quarter) at own 25-yard line

Armstrong throws it behind Wicks to open play in the fourth quarter. Virginia will punt after an incompletion on 3rd-and-2.

Third quarter

Virginia drive starts 0:24 at own 25-yard line

Safety Ja’Had Carter is on the sideline in street clothes. The Orange has lost three defensive starters tonight (and has already lost Stefon Thompson for the season).

Aman Greenwood, Jason Simmons, Eric Coley, Isaiah Johnson and Alijah Clark are the five defensive backs on the field as the third quarter bleeds out.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 19, Virginia 13 with 0:24 remaining third quarter

Syracuse drive starts 6:30 at own 20-yard line

A short Pena returns results in a net loss, as a holding penalty on SU’s return unit backs it up to the 20-yard line.

Jackson drops a pass out wide, and SU is in 3rd-and-long again. Shrader pushes it downfield to Alford for a 16-yard gain and first down.

Shrader took a big hit to the head on the next play. The flags come out, and the crowd anticipates (and receives) a targeting penalty on Nick Jackson, who led the ACC in tackles last season and is among the conference leaders again.

Jackson is out. Syracuse is up to the UVA 48-yard line after the penalty.

Later in the drive, Shrader is sacked for a loss back to the UVA 43-yard line. On 3rd-and-18, Shrader just hangs on and extends the play. He eventually finds Cooper who is just beyond the first-down marker to move the sticks and keep the drive alive.

The drive ends on Shrader’s second interception of the game. He tried a timing route with Gadsden. The play is under review, and it video board here shows the ball hit the turf. Syracuse is going to get a field-goal attempt out of this mess.

New holder; no problem. Mike Midkiff gets it down, and Szmyt bangs through his fourth field goal of the game.

Virginia drive starts 7:23 at own 23-yard line

Geer bats down a pass at the line of scimmage to bring the crowd to its feet for a key third down here midway through the third quarter.

On 3rd-and-10, Armstrong has to get rid of it a smidge sooner than he wanted, and Syracuse forces a three-and-out.

Syracuse drive starts 9:26 at own 25-yard line

SU’s 16-0 halftime lead has been whittled down to 16-13 before Garrett Shrader ever touched the ball in the third quarter.

Syracuse goes three-and-out, as Shrader’s pass to Mang comes up a yard short of the sticks.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 16, Virginia 13 with 9:26 remaining third quarter

Virginia drive starts 9:40 at SU 13-yard line

Pena gets absolutely whacked on the kick return. He fumbles the ball. Virginia recovers. And the Cavaliers are 13 yards from the end zone. We’ll count that as a third SU turnover. Officials review for targeting, but no call is made.

Rob Hanna gets flagged for a late hit, and Eric Coley comes on to replace him. Orange has a hole to plug with Barron’s ejection.

Perris Jones scores on the next play.

JT Geer gets credited with the blocked extra point. It’s the second week in a row the Orange block a PAT.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 16, Virginia 7 with 9:46 remaining third quarter

Virginia drive starts 15:00 at own 25-yard line

Virginia comes out on its first possession of the second half and moves the chains on a completion from Armstrong to Thompson.

Justin Barron’s hit on Thompson is being reviewed. He made contact near the shoulder area. Officials confirm targeting, and Barron’s night is over early. He’ll miss the first half of next week’s game vs. Wagner. Barron is also the team’s holder.

Virginia is up to the SU 43-yard line. After the snap, Terry Lockett is down and getting assisted by the trainers. He limps off the field with the help of support staff. Not a great chain of events here for the Orange.

Virginia closing in on its first visit to the red area this game. Perris Jones picks up the first down on a tough run, and UVA is down to the SU 12-yard line.

Mikel Jones spies Armstrong and stops him enough for Darton to clean up the rest. Armstrong lowers his shoulder and gets a new set of downs on the 2-yard line.

Thompson runs it in from a yard out, and Virginia is on the board as SU loses two defensive starters on the drive.

Halftime: Syracuse 16, Virginia 0

Dino Babers’ in-house halftime comments on the field: Finish the drives.

Syracuse has had four trips in the red zone but has settled for three field goals. It’s the only thing keeping Virginia alive after the defense held the Cavaliers scoreless through the first 30 minutes.

Defensive end Caleb Okechukwu’s two sacks paced a four-sack, one-turnover effort from Tony White’s unit.

Brennan Armstrong is just 9-for-17 for 66 yards. Virginia has amassed just 109 yards on 31 plays in the first half (3.52 yards per play).

Marlowe Wax has been a menace, getting into the backfield to apply pressure and coming up with a huge open-field tackle to snuff out an earlier drive.

Offensively, Oronde Gadsden II is picking up where he left off after last week’s game-winning score. He’s grabbed a game-high six receptions for 103 yards.

Garrett Shrader (12-for-18 for 175 yards) is on pace for his first 300-yard game.

In addition to coming up short in the red area, SU has turned the ball over twice (Tucker fumble; Shrader interception).

Second quarter

Virginia drive starts 1:14 at own 10-yard line

Caleb Okechukwu with another sack. Fans want a safety, but the officials rule his forward progress out to the 3-yard line.

Leon Lowry, a few plays later, takes down Armstrong behind the line of scrimmage.

SU’s defense has recorded four sacks and forced a turnover in the first half. Just a standout effort.

Virginia backs up more after a holding penalty with just 19 seconds showing on the clock.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 16, Virginia 0 with 1:21 remaining second quarter

Syracuse drive starts 6:43 at own 13-yard line

Anthony Johnson wraps up Shrader behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 4.

Gadsden gets it all back for a first down on his fifth catch of the half. Gadsden’s 21-yard catch and run puts him up to 85 yards.

TV broadcast says SU’s trainers were working on Tucker’s left leg. He’s back in the game. Shrader extends the play and muscles one out to Pena for another chunk gain (27 yards).

Tucker with another reception. He shakes a defender and powers through for another first down.

Gadsden goes up and uses his height for another big-time catch inside the red zone. He’s over 100 yards in the first half

A defensive holding call on Anthony Johnson places the ball at the UVA 7-yard line.

Anae feeds Tucker, who is stood up for a 2-yard gain.

Shrader doesn’t get rid of the ball on second down, working through his reads. It seemed like he had Gadsden in the end zone. Shrader, on third down, tries to fire one in to Tucker but can’t complete it. He had Pena as an option on the play, too.

Szmyt sinks his third field goal of the half.

Virginia drive starts 8:23 at own 25-yard line

Tucker is out of the medical tent, sipping water and joining the offensive huddle on the bench. He did not go into the locker room.

Armstrong’s pass hits Wicks in the facemask. It looked like Wicks’ view may have been obstructed. Virginia is back in 3rd-and-10, as Armstrong’s pass to Thompson is low.

Wax with the pressure, and Okechukwu finishes off the sack. Virginia will punt.

Syracuse drive starts 10:32 at own 25-yard line

Courtney Jackson regains his footing in time to haul in a timing route for a quick first down.

Sean Tucker is down on the field on the far sideline on the next play. Tucker caught a pass out wide and is not moving. Dino Babers is out to check on his star back with 10:00 minutes remaining in the second quarter.

Virginia players kneeling for Tucker, who suddenly pops up and runs off the field.

He’s going into the medical tent to be evaluated. LeQuint Allen in the game.

On 3rd-and-8, Shrader has to scramble and comes up well short of the marter. Syracuse on to punt for the first time tonight.

Virginia drive starts 11:32 at SU 32-yard line

Virginia gets another short field here following a turnover. It has been unable to cash in on any scoring opportunities.

Armstrong handles a low snap but overshoots Thompson, who can’t locate the ball. It quickly brings up 3rd-and-10 from the SU 32-yard line. Crowd noise forces the false start on the left tackle, likely taking UVA out of field-goal range (Farrell has already missed two kicks).

Wicks gets back to the 25-yard line on the catch and run.

Farrell is on the sideline. On 4th-and-3, Garrett Williams with the PBU on Thompson.

It’s a turnover on downs. SU’s defense holding down the fort here after the sudden change of possessions.

Syracuse drive starts 12:48 at own 33-yard line

Garrett Shrader throws his first interception of the season. It wasn’t particularly in the vicinity of a receiver. SU has two turnovers here in the first half.

Virginia drive starts 14:06 at own 16-yard line

Elijah Fuentes getting run here for the Orange defensive line. A good open-field tackle by Duce Chestnut brings up 3rd-and-5 for UVA.

Armstrong throws it up to Wicks down the left sideline. Chestnut is in coverage, and the pass is overthrown. Virginia will punt. First three-and-out for either side tonight.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 13, Virginia 0 with 14:15 remaining second quarter

Syracuse drive starts 0:47 at UVA 28-yard line

Shrader is stopped for a loss on 3rd-and-9, and the Orange has to settle for another field goal in the red area.

Szmyt sinks the 32-yarder.

First quarter

Syracuse drive starts 0:47 at UVA 28-yard line

Robert Anae dials up the trick play: Shrader flips it to Pena, who goes long for Tucker. It draw a defensive pass interference, and SU is back in the red zone for the third time on four drives here in the opening quarter.

On the last play of the quarter, Shrader throws it a little wide of Devaughn Cooper. They’ll take a walk down the field and pick up the 3rd-and-9 on the other side of the break.

Shrader Q1 stats: 6-for-10 for 91 yards (17 rush yards and a score)

Gadsden: four catches for 64 yards

Tucker: seven carries for 20 yards (2.9 ypc) and one catch for 15 yards.

Virginia drive starts 0:54 at own 29-yard line

Mikel Jones delivers a big hit on special teams.

Alijah Clark forces a fumble on the first play, and Garrett Williams grabs it out of the air. Syracuse is back up to plus-six in turnover margin on the year.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 10, Virginia 0 with 1:00 remaining first quarter

Syracuse drive starts 5:17 at own 31-yard line

Shrader extends the play and tries to make tough throw to Max Mang. He answers with a strike to Pena for a first down.

Tough throw there by Shrader, looking for a well-defended Courtney Jackson across the field. SU gets a little bit beyond the original line of scrimmage on a completion to Gadsden.

On 3rd-and-9, Shrader hits Gadsden in stride. Clean pocket all the way for No. 6. Gadsden is up to 64 yards on four receptions.

A short gain by Tucker is enough to move past Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis on the school’s career rushing list. Tucker is now 12th on the list. Shrader flicks one out to Tucker for another first down in the red zone.

On 3rd-and-8, Shrader looks for Damien Alford, but the two can’t connect.

Andre Szmyt is on for the 26-yard field-goal attempt.

Virginia drive starts 7:20 at SU 37-yard line

Wax wraps up Armstrong on 3rd-and-short to bring up another field-goal attempt for Farrell.

His kick from 49-yarder is missed to the right again.

Syracuse drive starts 7:27 at own 33-yard line

Sean Tucker loses the fumble on the first carry of the drive. The defender came up behind him and punched it out.

That’s Syracuse’s first turnover of the season.

Virginia drive starts 12:18 at own 25-yard line

Anwar Sparrow, the Virginia native, gets the start at linebacker with McDonald out.

Brennan Armstrong evades the pass rush and scrambles out to the 35-yard line, just good to move the chains.

Syracuse quickly gets UVA back into 3rd-and-long. Armstrong gets the ball out before Caleb Okechukwu can get there and completes it to Dontayvion Wicks for another first down at midfield.

Big throw downfield: Kevon Darton grabbed Armstrong’s leg. He’s a little hobbly getting up. The play results in a defensive pass interference and a new set of downs.

On 3rd-and-1, UVA’s right tackle Jonathan Leech gets flagged for a false start. That leads to Armstrong taking a shot downfield. Marlowe Wax gets there late, but no flag. Armstrong overshoots Keytaon Thompson.

Brendan Farrell’s 51-yard field goal is a little low and to the right. No good.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 7, Virginia 0 with 12:18 remaining first quarter

Syracuse drive starts 14:49 at UVA 41-yard line

Trebor Pena, back from injury, returns the opening kickoff 57 yards out across midfield.

Shrader delivers a strike on a slant over the middle to Oronde Gadsden II, and Syracuse is quickly in field-goal range. Shrader goes back to Gadsden for another first down. The Orange comes out fast and is in the red zone.

Syracuse brings on 12 personnel, but Tucker is stopped to bring up third down. Tucker is then stood up before crossing the goal line on a pass in the left flat. Virginia accepts the holding penalty on Syracuse, and it bites it in the you-know-where.

Shrader scans the field then takes off, easily clearing the lone defender to score from 17 yards out.

Pregame

Good evening from the JMA Wireless Dome, where Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 ACC) looks to remain unbeaten when it hosts Virginia (2-1).

These two clubs last faced each other in 2015, treating us to a triple-overtime thriller in which Eric Dungey memorably hurdled UVA safety Quin Blanding en route to a touchdown.

The coaches that day? Scott Shafer and Mike London. Both were fired at the end of the season, replaced by Dino Babers and Bronco Mendenhall, respectively.

Virginia is now led by first-year head coach Tony Elliott, who accepted the job after Mendenhall’s sudden resignation at the end of last season. Of course, two of Mendenhall’s longtime chieftains, Robert Anae and Jason Beck, are now on Babers’ remade coaching staff.

We’re about an hour away from kickoff.

I bumped into athletic administrator Andrew Goodrich outside the dome. He’s working his final football game before leaving to be the new athletic director at Gardner-Webb in North Carolina.

Goodrich’s word of advice tonight: Watch the student turnout. They’ll all be dressed in blue.

Slot receiver/return specialist Trebor Pena is dressed as the team takes the field for warm-ups. Coach Dino Babers intimated earlier in the week Pena would be available to suit up after missing last week’s 32-29 victory against Purdue with an injury.

Wide receiver Isaiah Jones, who Babers said would likely be sidelined for the rest of the season, has his right arm in a sling.

And another key absence: Linebacker Derek McDonald will not play tonight.

There’s a big scout presence here tonight: We’re told there are 27 scouts representing 21 NFL teams expected in the building.

MORE ORANGE FOOTBALL COVERAGE:

Syracuse’s defense bails out the offense, penalties and mistakes vs. Virginia: (Axe’s best and worst)

Syracuse works more late-game magic after mistake-filled game to beat Virginia, 22-20 and move to 4-0

You Grade the Orange: Rate Syracuse football performance vs. Virginia

Syracuse football box score vs. Virginia

Tony Elliott knows the Dome well, but his players don’t (7 things to know for Syracuse-Virginia)

Jason Beck’s ‘calming effect’ has turned his QBs into stars. Garrett Shrader looks like he’s next

Syracuse Orange fans:

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