Syracuse falls to UNC 27-10 with the fewest passing completions in an ACC game

Between both freshmen quarterbacks Joseph Filardi and Luke Carney, the Orange completed four passes against UNC as the offense amassed 147 total yards to UNC’s 425.

The four completions were the fewest in an ACC game for Syracuse since joining the conference in 2013, leading to a 27-10 defeat and their fifth consecutive loss.

Syracuse started Filardi under center. The freshman struggled to move the chains through the first two possessions, but he picked up Syracuse’s first fresh set of downs off a 14-yard scramble up the middle late in the first. The drive resulted in a field goal, the only offensive points of the night for Syracuse

“A lot of times, you guys just want to blame the quarterback,” head coach Fran Brown said. “But there’s ten other people out there. There’s calls that come from a coordinator and things that may come from the head football coach. So, I think everybody has to be on the same page.”

Brown said the game moved a little fast for Filardi, but that he showed a lot of maturity.

“He was able to continue to stay focused on the playbook, learning all the things and staying locked in,” Brown said. “It says a lot about who he is as a kid.”

After finishing the first half 1-11 and opening the third quarter with a 3-and-out due to a high throw to Johntay Cook II, the Orange turned to Carney.

Photo by Joe Zhao

UNC defensive back Kaleb Cost knocks the ball away from Syracuse wide receiver Johntay Cook during their game at the JMA Wireless Dome on Friday, Oct. 31.

Carney started his first drive with 13:10 left in the third quarter. He took the offense to the UNC 30, but after suffering two sacks and a delay of game, the Orange were forced to punt. That was the last time Carney saw the field.

Syracuse went back to Filardi to start the fourth. After moving the chains once, he was hit from behind while escaping the pocket and fumbled. UNC recovered the loose ball and capitalized with a 21-yard touchdown pass from Gio Lopez to Jordan Shipp to go up 27-10 with 10:35 left in the game.

Filardi had not seen any action this season. Brown said the decision to start him was made on Thursday.

“The reason he played is because he won in practice,” Brown said. “We felt as though he would be the guy that could go in to help keep the game manageable so that we could get an opportunity to win.”

Rickie Collins did not see the field after starting the last four games. Brown said he considered it late in the game.

“It just wouldn’t have been fair to the rest of the kids or to him,” he said.

Defensively, Syracuse started strong, delivering the team’s only touchdown off a scoop-and-score from linebacker Anwar Sparrow off a fumble forced by defensive back Devin Grant. The Orange held UNC to just six points off two field goals through the first half.

The second half was a different story, as Syracuse couldn’t contain UNC freshman running back Demon June. He set the tone by taking a screen pass 72 yards to the house on the first play of the third quarter, and scored again on the subsequent drive from the Syracuse 5-yard line.

“Eventually you get tired, right?” Brown said. “We get a 12-play drive, we make them kick a field goal, good to go. And then after two plays you’re right back. Eventually, those guys wear out and won’t be able to keep up. There’s a lot of freshmen and sophomores on the football field, so it’s progress.”

The Orange will take that progress to Miami Gardens, Fla., next Saturday, where they face No. 10 Miami. Kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m.