Stanford clinches victory over Syracuse with Emmet Kenney's game-winning field goal as time expires.

 Stanford clinches victory over Syracuse with Emmet Kenney's game-winning field goal as time expires.

Stanford Edges Syracuse with Last-Second Field Goal for First ACC Win

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Emmet Kenney delivered a 39-yard field goal as time expired, lifting Stanford to a dramatic 26-24 victory over Syracuse on Friday night. The clutch kick secured Stanford’s first-ever Atlantic Coast Conference win.

"I was really confident out there, especially with the best snapper, holder, and line in the country,” Kenney said. “They did their job perfectly, and when I saw it sail through, it was like a dream come true.”

Syracuse (2-1, 1-1 ACC) briefly took the lead with 3:13 remaining, as Kyle McCord connected with Jackson Meeks on a 13-yard touchdown pass, putting the Orange ahead 24-23. However, Ashton Daniels led the Cardinal (2-1, 1-0 ACC) on a crucial drive, including a pivotal 27-yard completion to Elic Ayomanor on fourth-and-9, to set up Kenney’s game-winning kick.

"This was special, especially our first ACC game,” said Daniels. “We’ve struggled the past couple of seasons, and this win means everything. I trusted Elic completely, and I knew there was no one else to go to on that fourth down."

Kenney also contributed with field goals of 38, 51, and 35 yards earlier in the game.

Stanford’s defense made its mark, with safety Mitch Leigber intercepting McCord and returning it 71 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter, extending Stanford’s lead to 20-10. Syracuse responded when McCord scrambled for a 19-yard touchdown, narrowing the deficit to 20-17.

Daniels finished 23-of-38 for 178 yards, with a touchdown to Ayomanor, who caught seven passes for 87 yards. McCord threw for 339 yards on 27-of-42 passing but was intercepted twice, leading to 10 Stanford points. He was also sacked four times, with David Bailey recording two of those sacks. Syracuse’s Trebor Pena had 10 catches for 101 yards.

McCord acknowledged his mistakes: "The first interception was a miscommunication, and the second was just a dumb play on my part."

Despite McCord’s errors, Syracuse coach Fran Brown defended his quarterback: "He gave us a chance to win, and that’s all you can ask for. You can't expect 500 yards passing every game."

Stanford’s defense shut down Syracuse’s running game, holding LeQuint Allen to just 25 yards on eight carries. The Cardinal also limited Syracuse to a mere 26 rushing yards overall.

"The defense has really stepped up these past two games,” said Stanford coach Troy Taylor.

Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II, a key weapon for the Orange, was held to just two catches after entering the game with 13 on the season.

Takeaways:  

This win was a statement for Stanford, showcasing their ability to dominate in key moments. Syracuse, meanwhile, struggled offensively, lacking balance and cohesion.

The Cardinal move forward with renewed confidence, while Syracuse looks to regroup and address its offensive issues.