By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo: (AP Photo/Matt Freed)
No. 19 Pittsburgh Panthers made a statement against the Syracuse Orange on Thursday night. The Panthers decimated Orange 41-13. Panthers stay undefeated and improve to 7-0.
Panthers were favorites to win by 4.5 on the spread. The game was never competitive.
Syracuse drops to (5-2, 2-2) in the season. The Orange committed three pick six in the first half. Rasheem Biles got the first interception, followed by Kyle Louis, and then Braylan Lovelace got the third one.
All three of them are linebackers and scored a touchdown on those interceptions.
It was an embarrassing performance by quarterback Kyle McCord. He threw five interceptions overall with no touchdowns.
Orange problems were more than turnovers. Penalties also hurt them. The Orange had eight penalties for 70 yards.
Panthers quarterback Eli Holstein completed 11 of 15 passes for 108 yards with two touchdowns. Wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr caught 31 yards on two receptions and a touchdown.
The Panthers’ defeat of the Orange should earn them more respect in the AP Poll. The defense won this game for the team.
Revenge feels sweet for the Panthers, given that the Orange embarrassed them at Yankee Stadium last fall.
If the Panthers can continue this momentum, they have a legitimate chance to reach the ACC title game this year. Their performance on defense against the Orange must be something they continue to repeat to have success.
The Panthers’ next game is on the road against SMU on November 2.
Miguel Mike Medina is a publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com
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