Football

Superlatives from Syracuse’s 34-18 Camping World Bowl win over West Virginia

Max Freund | Staff Photographer

Moe Neal totaled 87 yards of offense in Syracuse's Camping World Bowl win over West Virginia.

By Josh Schafer

ORLANDO, Fla. — No. 20 Syracuse (10-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast) defeated No. 16 West Virginia (8-4, 6-3 Big 12), 34-18, in the Camping World Bowl on Friday evening. The Orange’s win at Camping World Stadium was their first bowl victory since 2013 and pushed them to 10 wins for the first time since 2001.

Here are superlatives from the game:

The Big Moment: Trishton Jackson’s fourth quarter touchdown

Syracuse couldn’t find the end zone in the third quarter. But as the frame winded down, SU started one of its best drives of the day. Trailing 18-17, Eric Dungey jump-started the series with a shovel pass to fullback Chris Elmore. The play made Dungey Syracuse’s all-time leading passer.

As the ball shifted sides for the final frame, Syracuse sat at 3rd-and-11 from the WVU 14. Dungey dropped back to pass and lofted a back-shoulder throw to Jackson, a transfer from Michigan State. Jackson’s first catch as a member of the Orange resulted in a 14-yard touchdown.



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Stud: Abdul Adams, Syracuse running back

After transferring from Oklahoma last January, Adams spent the 2018 regular season on the bench due to NCAA transfer rules as had Jackson. But with the semester completed and a new redshirt rule enacted, both Jackson and Adams played in their first game action for the Orange. The new rule, implemented by the NCAA prior to the season, allows players to participate in up to four contests before claiming the season as a redshirt.

Adams carried the ball eight times for 19 yards and two touchdowns. His first trip to the end zone came on his first series in the game. From the 4-yard line Adams barreled through the middle of the line and toppled over a WVU defender. As he laid on top of the Mountaineer which covered him from being marked down, he stuck the ball out for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Adams scored once more. The former four-star recruit who averaged 9.2 yards per carry a season ago at Oklahoma merely side-stepped to his right before stepping in for an easy touchdown.

Dud: West Virginia’s high powered offense

When the game was first announced in early December, it was immediately pinned as a shootout. But when three West Virginia players — including record-setting quarterback Will Grier — announced they wouldn’t play due to NFL Draft expectations, the outcome of the game became unclear.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Allison helped move the ball, throwing for 277 yards on 17 for 35 passing. But it wasn’t nearly enough as the Mountaineers failed to finish opportunities. WVU finished 6 for 18 on third downs and 0 for 3 on fourth downs. Mountaineer kicker Evan Staley sank four field goals as a result.

Highlight: Moe Neal’s near fourth quarter touchdown

Early in the fourth quarter, Dungey spun around in the backfield and looked like he had nowhere to go. With multiple WVU defenders closing on the scrambling Dungey, the senior quarterback popped up a last second pass to Neal just past the line of scrimmage. Neal scampered down the middle of the field. Neal juked to the side of the second defender to approach him. As another dove at Neal’s ankles, he high-stepped over them. A few yards later, Neal barreled through a final defender before darting for the sideline.

Though Neal was tackled inside the 5-yard line, what looked like a sure sack had turned into a 42-yard completion. The next play Jarveon Howard plunged in a four-yard touchdown, pushing the Syracuse lead to 34-18.





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