ANALYSIS: With everything on the line, Miami Hurricanes's 21-0 lead is turned on its head in devastating 42-38 defeat

With everything on the line, the Miami Hurricanes jumped out to a 21-0 lead at Syracuse after the team’s first three possessions on Saturday.

Easy win, right?

Well, no.

The Orange tied the score at 21 with 39 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and after a Xavier Restrepo fumble was returned 56 yards for a TD by Devin Grant the Canes found themselves in a 35-28 hole with 1:47 to go in the third quarter.

Miami tied it at 35 with 13:02 to play, then Syracuse went ahead 42-35 on its next possession, an Andy Borregales field goal made it 42-38 Orange with 3:42 to play … with unsportsmanlike conduct against Jacolby George pushing Miami way back after a first-and-goal at the eight … and then Syracuse converted two first downs, one on an offsides call against Ahmad Moten, to secure a 42-38 win.

There will be no ACC title game.

Likely no playoffs.

A brutal, brutal loss with way too many mistakes – nine penalties for 90 yards – and a defense that gave up 380 passing yards and three TDs to Kyle McCord.

“I mean, we earned it (the loss), you know, that’s the bottom line,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “Can’t shy away from responsibility, accountability. They played better than we did. We had some critical, critical things show up in critical moments. We played hard, fought hard, but not enough, you know? Should be able to close out a game like that and we all have to take responsibility starting with myself.”

QB Cam Ward finished hitting on 25 of 36 passes for 349 yards and two TDs. He added 19 rush yards. But it wasn’t enough.

“Just didn’t get the job done,” Ward said. “Key, crucial plays on both sides of the ball. Didn’t get the job done, that’s why we lost the game. It was always just one play. Both sides of the ball had a bad play in a given moment. That was the reason we lost the game. Both sides didn’t make enough plays.”

Damien Martinez led the run game with 84 yards on 10 carries and a TD, and Mark Fletcher added 13 carries for 46 yards and two TDs. The top receivers were Restrepo with nine catches for 148 yards and a TD, but he lost a fumble returned for a TD, and George had 121 yards on six catches but that aforementioned very costly penalty.

“X was just trying to make play, you saw all the big plays he made today,” Cristobal said. “But certainly a game-changer (mistake), right? There’s no excuse as far as replay, I didn’t see the penalty (vs. George), if it’s warranted or not. But if it’s thrown, it’s thrown. It should never happen, especially in a critical moment like that.”

On defense the Canes simply had no answers after the first couple of drives of the game. The team allowed only 2.0 yards per carry but Syracuse QB Kyle McCord had 305 passing yards and three passing TDs … with 7:47 to play in the third quarter.

For the game he hit on 26 of 36 passes for 380 yards with three TDs.

“They ran exactly what we thought they were going to run,” S Meesh Powell said. “We have to go back and watch the tape, see where we messed up. But there were a lot of things we thought that they’d run that they did end up running.”

There were sacks from Tyler Baron and Akheem Mesidor. Miami had four tackles for loss.

Tackle leaders were Francisco Mauigoa with 13, OJ Frederique with nine and Wesley Bissainthe with seven.

Frederique and Porter were both picked on in the secondary with a lot of success, and the Orange had two receivers with over 100 yards – Jackson Meeks (seven catches, 110 yards, 2 TDs) and Trebor Pena (six catches, 128 yards, TD).

“Just the biggest thing is understanding there’s going to be wins and losses, but it’s about your preparation,” Powell said. “We prepared very well for this game. Sometimes it doesn’t play out the way you want to, but you still have to stay consistent with your preparation because there will come another time you need to make a play and be your most prepared.”

A big play at the time: Bobby Pruitt forced and recovered a fumble at the Miami 17 with the game tied at 28.

But the end result was a loss.

“The goal of winning and playing for the ACC (title) is where we fell short,” Cristobal said. “Extremely painful, brutally difficult. We have to own it, that’s the bottom line.”

The scoring:

Miami drove 75 yards on nine plays to open the game, only facing one third down, and Mark Fletcher’s two-yard TD run made it 7-0. That extended to 14-0 on Miami’s next drive after a 16-yard Xavier Restrepo TD grab. The next series Miami drove 93 yards on eight plays, with Elijah Arroyo making it 21-0 on a two-yard third-and-goal TD. Syracuse answered with a  seven-play, 75-yard TD drive that ended with a LeQuint Allen eight-yard TD run. After Miami went three-and-out the Syracuse made it 21-14 on a 15-play, 67-yard drive that ended with Jackson Meeks catching a third-and-goal nine-yard TD pass over Daryl Porter, Jr. Syracuse tied the game to start the third quarter, with Trebor Pena following up a 50-yard deep grab with a 25-yard scoring catch. Miami answered right back, driving 75 yards on eight plays, with Fletcher running in a two-yard TD. Syracuse then tied it again at 28, with a Meeks nine-yard TD catch.

The Orange took their first lead, 35-28, with 1:47 to go in the third quarter when a Xavier Restrepo fumble was returned 56 yards for a TD by Devin Grant. Miami responded, driving 75 yards on eight plays, with Damien Martinez running in a two-yard score. Syracuse took a 42-35 lead on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a three-yard Allen TD run with 9:16 to play. The Borregales field goal ended the scoring.

Miami Offensive Starters­­­

QB #1 Cam Ward, RB #6 Damien Martinez, RB #4 Mark Fletcher, Jr., WR #7 Xavier Restrepo, WR #3 Jacolby George, TE #8 Elijah Arroyo, LT #64 Jalen Rivers, LG #78 Matt McCoy, C #50 Zach Carpenter, RG #73 Anez Cooper, RT #61 Francis Mauigoa

Miami Defensive Starters

DL #4 Rueben Bain, DL #5 CJ Clark, DL #99 Ahmad Moten, Sr., DL #3 Akheem Mesidor, LB #31 Wesley Bissainthe, LB #1 Francisco Mauigoa, DB #2 Daryl Porter, Jr., DB #0 Meesh Powell, DB #29 OJ Frederique, DB #7 Jaden Harris, DB #15 Markeith Williams

KEY MOMENTS

FIRST QUARTER

Miami began with the ball at the 25 and faced a quick third-and-four – Cam Ward rolled right and threw a strike to Jacolby George for a pickup of 19. Then Xavier Restrepo made a grab down the middle for 12. A Flecher run and catch moved the chains again, to the Syracuse 27, then he got a nice hole up the middle and cut outside for nine more yards … he then plunged up the middle for another first down at the 13. After Restrepo drew a pass interference flag, which put the ball at the two. Fletcher plunged into the end zone from there.

Syracuse started its first possession at the 25 and on first down Oronde Gadsden II made a first down grab on the right side with Daryl Porter, Jr. in coverage. Facing a third-and-four after a pair of LeQuint Allen runs, Trebor Pena got open down the middle for 13. He found a soft spot in the zone. After a five-yard catch by Darrell Gill Jr., a 40-yard TD catch and run by Pena was negated by illegal formation. Facing a third-and-seven a thrown the left side was caught … but out of bounds. But Rueben Bain was offsides on the play. On third-and-two the Allen run went nowhere, and the Orange went for it on fourth down.

And didn’t get it.

Wesley Bissainthe did a great job getting a hand in to knock the ball out of Jackson Meeks’ hands.

The Canes had it back at their own 37. A quick pass down the middle to Restrepo gained 10, and then George was open on a busted coverage for a gain of 25. Facing third-and-three from the Syracuse 21 Ward ran around the left side for a three-yard pickup. Two plays later? Ward hit Restrepo, who did a great job running and diving to the right pylon for the TD.

With 3:43 to go in the quarter the Canes’ lead was 14-0.

The Orange got the ball back at the 25 and Akheem Mesidor got a first down sack for a loss of eight. Meeks made a 14-yard catch on the left sideline to bring up third-and-four, and then Tyler Baron tracked down a scrambling Kyle McCord for a sack/forced fumble that McCord recovered. Ray Ray Joseph didn’t field the punt, and it took a Syracuse bounce and was downed at the Miami 7.

Two plays later? It was George getting open down the middle for a gain of 40, and on the next snap he was open for 19 more yards to bring the opening quarter to an end.

SECOND QUARTER

Two plays later it was Martinez getting Fletcher and Elijah Arroyo blocking in front of him and he took it 21 yards up the left side to the Syracuse six. After Elija Lofton didn’t turn his head around and look for the ball early enough it was Fletcher running ahead for a third-and-goal from the two. And Arroyo was uncovered in the middle of the end zone for the easy TD.

It was 21-0 Canes.

Syracuse began its third drive at the 25 and Porter was beaten on a back shoulder throw to Justus Ross-Simmons for a gain of 23. Two plays later Allen had an 11-yard catch, faking Mesidor out of his shoes on the route, and then Justus Ross-Simmons picked up 23 down the middle. That set up an eight-yard TD run by Allen to make it a 21-7 Canes lead.

Ward and the offense started its next series at the 25, and Jordan Lyle’s first carry lost a yard. After a catch by Cam McCormick brought up third-and-five, and Ward’s pass down the middle to Sam Brown was off his fingers. The punt set up the Orange at their 33.

Facing a quick third-and-three Meeks sat down in the zone and made the seven-yard catch in the middle. Allen then got a hole up the middle for 10 yards, and facing third-and-seven from there OJ Frederique was called for holding. Then a pair of Yasin Willis runs brought up a third-and-one at the 21, and a sneak from McCord gained two. Allen tested the middle for three, then McCord took a keeper for a one-yard pickup. Facing third-and-five no one picked up Allen out of the backfield and made the catch to the nine (Mesidor realized too late the back was going out for a pass). On third-and-goal from there Meeks made the TD grab over Daryl Porter, Jr.

It was 21-14 Miami.

The Canes had it back at the 25 and Ward hit Restrepo down the middle for 25 on first down. Two runs brought up third-and-six, and Ward was pressured and Duce Chestnut broke up the short throw as Ward simply tried to get it away. The punt went out of bounds at the Syracuse 15, a net of 31 yards with under two minutes to play.

Facing a quick third-and-three Meeks came totally free down the middle to move the chains to the 31. Meesh Powell broke up the next pass and almost intercepted it. On third-and-five with 38 seconds to go McCord led Gadsden too far and the punt was fair caught by Jacolby George at the 25 with 28 seconds to go.

A pass down the middle found George for a first down with 16 seconds to go, but holding on Francis Mauigoa brought it back and Miami let the clock run out on the half.

THIRD QUARTER

Syracuse started at its 25 and a deep shot hit one-on-one vs. OJ Frederique. Pena’s catch went for a gain of 50. And on the very next play Pena easily beat Porter down the right sideline for another deep shot that went for a 25-yard TD.

The game was tied at 21 just 39 seconds into the third quarter.

Miami began with the ball at the 25 and Ward hit Restrepo down the middle on first down for a gain of 20. Two plays later Ward scrambled free for a gain of 17 to the Syracuse 35. Two plays after that it was Arroyo wide open down the middle for a 27-yard gain to the six. Facing third-and-goal from the two Fletcher powered up the middle and into the end zone.

It was 28-21 Canes.

The Orange started at the 25 and he was sacked on first down by Baron. But then Damari Brown was beaten one on one down the field by Meeks for a pickup of 33. Pena then was wide open for a gain of 11 with Elijah Alston dropping in coverage but far off him. After a four-yard Allen run moved the ball to the Miami 35 it was Allen getting open down the middle for 21 yards, including a hurdle over Zaquan Patterson. Two plays later Meeks beat Frederique on a slant for a nine-yard TD.

The game was tied at 28.

Miami started at the 25 and Ward’s first down pass under pressure was batted and fell to the turf. Then it was Martinez running free up the middle for a gain of 55 … but it was brought back by holding against Jalen Rivers. Facing second-and-17 Ward was sacked to bring up third-and-25 (Fadil Diggs beat Markel Bell easily to the outside). Ward was pressured and threw it away and the punt was fair caught at the Syracuse 45.

Two Allen runs brought up third-and-eight … it was converted with Gadsden getting open over the middle, shaking a tackle and gaining 25. The next play was an 11-yard run … but Bobby Pruitt forced and recovered a fumble at the Miami 17.

Martinez made a nice move and broke free for a gain of 29, breaking tackles along the way. Facing third-and-four from the Syracuse 48 a short pass to Restrepo ended in disaster. The ball was plucked out of Restrepo’s grasp and returned 56 yards for a TD by Devin Grant.

Beginning at the 25 a two-yard Arroyo catch on a quick pass was followed by a throw to Isaiah Horton – his first catch – to bring up third-and-four. And Arroyo did a nice job going down to his knees to move the chains at the UM 36.

That moved the game to the final quarter with Miami and all its goals on the line and the Canes trailing by seven.

FOURTH QUARTER

Facing third-and-seven Miami had to spend its first timeout. The pass was batted down incomplete, but Xavier Restrepo was held on the play. That moved the ball to the Orange 49. Horton made a nine-yard grab on a quick pass, and then it was Restrepo open down the middle – he ran for a 40-yard gain to the two. Martinez ran into the end zone on the next play.

The game was tied at 35 with 13:02 remaining.

Syracuse started at the 25 and Gadsden picked up nine on first down on the right side with McCord rolling that direction … then Allen dove up the middle for the first down. Then Allen was open in front of Frederique for 13 yards down the middle, with Mauigoa leaving the area. Frederique was beaten one on one by Meeks on the outside for a gain of 29, and an incomplete pass and run brought up third-and-eight at the Miami 20. The pass was incomplete in the right corner of the end zone but Frederique was called for pass interference. That moved the ball to the five. After a run to the three Allen walked into the end zone behind a big gap in the right side.

Miami had it back at the 25 and on first down Mauigoa was called for a false start. A 15-yard low pass was grabbed by Restrepo, then Arroyo had a seven-yard grab. A receiver screen to George brought up third-and-one, and Lyle burst through for a first down at the Syracuse 48. Then George was open on the right side for 16 yards, and Martinez pushed past defenders up the middle for nine yards. Restrepo made a first down catch at the 21, Martinez tested the middle for three, then Horton dropped a pass. On third-and-seven Restrepo drew a flag down the middle to give Miami a first down at the Syracuse eight. A pass was almost intercepted on the next play, with the ball bouncing into the air … and after the play George was called for unsportsmanlike conduct.

That made it second and 23.

A McCormick catch made it third-and-goal from the 15. Ward scrambled and was taken down at the 10. On fourth and goal from the 10 Borregales came on and converted.

Syracuse’s lead was 42-38 with 3:42 to play.

The Orange had the ball at the 25 and on first down Allen ran for a first down, with a hurdle over Frederique at the end. Allen ran for four, and then Allen pushed and twisted his way for another first down with the clock moving to two minutes … and Miami having two timeouts left.

The Canes needed a stop to win.

Allen ran around the right side for six yards, then Ahmad Moten jumped offsides for the first down. Syracuse ran the ball for no gain on first down, with Miami calling its final timeout, and then Syracuse ran a reverse by Pena for a first down to end the game.