November 25, 2023; Syracuse, New York, USA; A full view of the Syracuse orange helmets before the game against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at the JMA Wireless Dome. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-Imagn Images LeQuint Allen rushed for the decisive touchdown in overtime, his fourth score of the game, and Syracuse held off a win in Las Vegas on Friday. Defeated No. 25 UNLV 44 -41.
The Rebels (4-1) were ranked first in program history, but had to settle for Caden Chittenden's 41-yard field goal in the first overtime. They then appeared to force the Orange (4-1) into a long field goal attempt, but a rough pass call gave the visitors new life.
Three plays later, Allen took the pass, dropped his shoulder to Jackson Woodard and shoved him into the end zone for the game-winning 1-yard score. Allen rushed 19 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns, plus two catches from Kyle McCord (40-for-63, 355 yards, three touchdowns, 1 interception).
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams went 21-for-25 for 227 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 53 yards and one score. Ricky White III had 10 catches for 135 yards and a touchdown and recorded a key punt block for UNLV.
Midway through the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 31-31, Woodard intercepted McCord's pass in the red zone. Shortly thereafter, Williams threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to White with 2:58 left in the game.
The Orange got the ball back down the field on McCord's 6-yard back-shoulder touchdown pass to Jackson Meeks with 23 seconds left. Allen broke a tackle on fourth-and-1 to keep the offense alive.
Syracuse got off to a fast start, with Allen finding the end zone on each of the Orange's first two drives. Williams responded with consecutive touchdowns – a 6-yard pass to Kaleo Ballungay, and then ran for a 3-yard touchdown, and the home team tied it 14-14.
The Rebels then stuffed Orange punter Jack Stonehouse deep in Syracuse territory and knocked him down before he could release. Two plays later, Williams found Casey Cain for a 9-yard score.
Syracuse responded with 17 straight points, including a 6-yard catch from McCord to Allen early in the third quarter and a 21-yard touchdown run by Yassin Willis to put the Orange within 31 midway through the third quarter. -21 lead.
However, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas rebounded, scoring the next 17 points. In the final minute of the third quarter, White blocked Stonehouse's punt. The ball bounced all the way 45 yards to the end zone, where Charles Correa landed on it for a touchdown, setting the stage for an exciting game.
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