RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Kyle McCord threw for 346 yards and two touchdowns as Syracuse defeated North Carolina State 24-17 Saturday night.
McCord connected on 31 of 42 passes for the Orange (5-1, 2-1 Atlantic Coast Conference), while LeQuint Allen supplemented Syracuse’s offensive attack with 119 yards of total offense and a touchdown on 23 touches.
The Wolfpack (3-4, 0-3) were powered by true freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who completed 17 of 24 throws for a season-high 329 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey also rushed for a team-high 28 yards.
With a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter, the momentum of the game shifted to Syracuse’s favor when Justin Barron intercepted Bailey and returned it 53 yards. That halted an eight-play Wolfpack drive that was nearing the red zone. Syracuse responded with an eight-play drive of its own that ended with McCord finding Jackson Meeks for a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal.
Meeks hauled in 11 passes for 116 yards.
N.C. State responded quickly, with Bailey finding Noah Rogers for a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown, but Syracuse took more than six minutes off the clock with its next possession. The Wolfpack trimmed the deficit with a field goal, but the Orange cleanly recovered an onside kick attempt and drained what time remained.
THE TAKEAWAY
Syracuse: With McCord leading the way, the Orange won in Raleigh for the first time since 2013. The transfer from Ohio State entered this game leading the nation in completions. He has now tied Syracuse’s single-season record for games with 300 yards or more passing and has provided a big boost to the Orange under first-year coach Fran Brown.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack have now suffered back-to-back losses at home for the first time since 2019. It was another game where N.C. State — which ranked 107th nationally in total offense entering Saturday — lost the turnover battle, 3-0, allowing the Orange to score off each of its crucial errors.
UP NEXT:
Syracuse: After a bye, the Orange play at No. 22 Pittsburgh on Oct. 24.
N.C. State: The Wolfpack travel to the West Coast to face California on Saturday.
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