Orange Shock No. 2 Tigers: Syracuse 27, Clemson 24

It was just one of those games for the Clemson Tigers (6-1, 4-1). Syracuse (3-3, 1-1) started fast, scoring on a ten play, 72-yard drive and never looked back on their way to a monumental upset over the #2 team in the country.

Clemson quarterback Kelly Bryant, who tweaked his ankle in the game against Wake Forest last week, never looked healthy. He was limping around in the first half and never was a threat to run. Near the end of the first half, he was taken down trying to escape a rush and suffered a concussion, knocking him out of the game. 

The Orange led the entire night and Clemson's loss of Kelly Bryant to an apparent concussion could loom large. The Tigers don't play again until October 28th against Georgia Tech, but injuries like the one Bryant sustained can be difficult to overcome. 

Without their starting quarterback, the Tigers couldn't find much in the second half outside of a big 52-yard touchdown by the phenomenal freshman Travis Etienne (5 carries, 68 yards, 1 touchdown). Not able to keep the offense on the field, the Tigers were worn down by the tempo of Syracuse who ran 83 plays for 443 yards. 

© Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Clemson's Kelly Bryant was knocked out of the game with 1:00 left in the first half.

Meanwhile, the special teams finally caught up to Clemson. Alex Spence missed field goals of 35 and 38 yards, scores which would have won the game for the Tigers. 

The Tigers did start the game fast, answering the early Syracuse score with a 37-yard touchdown run by Tavien Feaster (7 carries, 57 yards, 1 touchdown). When he was in, Bryant was reasonably sharp throwing the ball. He went 12-17 for 116 yards. But his lack of ability to run never really let the offense find the next gear, and the Tigers wouldn't see the end zone again until Tanner Muse scooped up a fumble and rumbled 63 yards for a score. Syracuse would answer with a field goal, and the game would go to half with Syracuse leading 17-14. 

In the second half, Zerrick Cooper would get the nod from the coaching staff and promptly lead Clemson on a scoring drive as Alex Spence would make a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 17. The Orange answered quick with a four play, 82-yard drive, capped by a 30-yard touchdown pass from Eric Dungey to Steve Ishmael.

Etienne would respond with his long touchdown the next possession, then Clemson would get a chance to take the lead after a three and out. Backup quarterback Zerrick Cooper overthrew Hunter Renfrow on third down to stall the drive, and then Spence would miss from 38 yards out. Cooper finished the game 10-for-14 with 88 yards passing, but it wouldn't be enough. As Syracuse scored on the next possession taking a 27-24 lead, which would turn out to be the final margin. 

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