There wasn’t too much positive to take out of Saturday afternoon’s 23-15 loss to No. 20 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (6-0). Turnovers were the killer for Syracuse Orange (2-4). Rutgers forced a total of five turnovers, three of which came at the hands of quarterback Ryan Nassib.
The Orange played well during the first half of the game. After Rutgers took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, the Orange responded in the second with a three-yard touchdown run by Adonis Ameen-Moore.
Neither of the offenses could really get it going during the first half which worked to Syracuse’s advantage.
A terrible second half riddled with turnovers ended up being the difference for the Orange. Syracuse turned the ball over five times during the half, and Rutgers turned those giveaways into points almost every time.
Syracuse had a chance to take the lead in the third, but Duran Harmon of Rutgers blocked Ross Krautman’s field goal attempt and returned the blocked for a 75-yard touchdown to give the Scarlet Knights a 14-7 lead. On the ensuing possession, Nassib fumbled the ball leading Rutgers to a field goal and a 17-7 lead.
Going into the fourth quarter, the Orange looked to put up some points and at least respond to Rutgers’ 10 unanswered points. But when Steve Rene fumbled the ball on a punt return, the Scarlet Knights again took advantage of the turnover and scored to go up 23-7.
Although Nassib threw his first interception later in the fourth, the Orange defense held the Scarlet Knights to no points for the rest of the game. However, the inability of the Syracuse offense to more down the field and score points in the red zone allowed Rutgers to keep its lead.
The lone bright spot of the game came with under five minutes left in the game. Syracuse drew within 8 points of the lead after Nassib threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to Christopher Clark, followed by a successful two-point conversion.
Unfortunately, a late Nassib interception ended any hope of an Orange comeback, and Rutgers came out with the victory.
