Syracuse plays QB roulette in 27-10 loss to North Carolina
Joe Filardi looks downfield to pass. Filardi struggled in his first career start, completing just four passes in his 27-10 loss to North Carolina Friday. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
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Three hours before Syracuse’s matchup with North Carolina, a shockwave hit. CNY Central’s Matt Mulcahy reported that true freshman quarterback Joe Filardi would be starting. Two months ago, that idea seemed foreign.
Filardi started fall training camp as SU’s fifth-string quarterback. Initially a four-star lacrosse commit — per Inside Lacrosse — Filardi walked onto the football team last spring.
Him ever appearing in a game, let alone starting one for Syracuse, seemed improbable. But with Rickie Collins struggling in the wake of Steve Angeli’s injury and other inexperienced options behind him, Fran Brown got desperate.
The decision didn’t pay off. It only left Syracuse (3-6, 1-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) with more questions as it fell 27-10 to North Carolina (3-5, 1-3 ACC). Brown didn’t stick with Filardi, pulling the quarterback after he completed just 4-of-18 passes for 39 yards. In came Luke Carney — who didn’t attempt a pass — for a couple drives before Filardi returned.
It was a quarterback roulette, signaling a coach that’s run out of ideas. Neither could produce anything of note, as the Orange finished with 39 passing yards, its lowest total since Nov. 11, 2023.
Brown hinted at a change during an interview with ESPNSyracuse on Wednesday. He didn’t specify a starter, but said “things will change” and made it clear Collins wouldn’t be the only quarterback to appear.
“We should’ve catered to (Collins) a little bit more, but he had a month of running the program,” Brown said. “We were 3-1 under Steve’s time, and then under Rickie’s time we were 0-4. You got to open that competition up and make sure you give an opportunity for us to be able to go out and win.”
Rather than go with Luke Carney — who replaced Collins for a few drives in SU’s loss to Pittsburgh — Rich Belin or Jakhari Williams, Brown went with Filardi.
The quarterback’s success at Half Hollow High School West is well-documented, as he set Long Island records for all-purpose yards (14,483) and touchdowns (151). Although it’s a little different going up against Bill Belichick, one of the best defensive minds ever.
Syracuse didn’t pick up a first down until its third drive, which came via Filardi’s legs. The quarterback missed his first nine passes, and the Orange were being outgained 141-47.
Though it didn’t matter. Syracuse somehow led 10-3. Its advantage came via Anwar Sparrow’s 49-yard scoop and score following two three-and-outs from the Orange. UNC quarterback Gio Lopez hit Shamar Easter over the middle before Devin Grant jarred the ball loose with a punishing blow, leading to Sparrow’s touchdown.
It gave SU its largest lead since defeating Clemson in Death Valley. That was part of the issue during Collins’ time starting. The Orange constantly played from behind, and Collins wasn’t a consistent enough passer to bring them back into games.
Filardi was even more inconsistent, but didn’t put the ball in harm’s way like Collins, who led the ACC with eight interceptions. Filardi’s first completion came on a flea-flicker, when he found Darius “Boobie” Johnson for 25 yards.
Yet, Syracuse’s drive stalled. Filardi finished the first half 1-for-11 with 25 passing yards, after Collins recorded 33 in the first half of last week’s loss to No. 7 Georgia Tech. Though his shortcomings went unpunished, with SU up 10-6 at half.
The trend didn’t continue after the break. Following another three-and-out, which ended with Filardi misfiring to Johntay Cook, UNC pounced. Demon June took a screen from Lopez 63-yards for a touchdown, breaking multiple Syracuse arm tackles in the process.
That prompted Brown to insert Carney into the lineup. Like with Filardi, SU’s pass offense was non-existent. It ran the ball nine straight times on Carney’s first drive. An 18-yard QB draw set Syracuse up deep in UNC territory. But when Carney dropped back for the first time, he was dumped for a sack, knocking the Orange out of goal range.
Soon, Syracuse was spiraling. Its defense went from holding strong to letting North Carolina carve through them. June — who terrorized Syracuse with 182 total scrimmage yards on 15 touches — converted a fourth-and-1 in the red zone and punched in a score with a five-yard rush.
Trailing 20-10, Brown continued to flip-flop quarterbacks, inserting Filardi back into the lineup. Nothing changed. Filardi fumbled on a broken play, and UNC took over at SU’s 34.
After the sequence, left tackle Trevion Mack walked to the sideline, angrily slamming his helmet on the ground. Mack furiously walked around the sidelines, while an SU assistant coach tried calming him down.
The sense of frustration was clear as day. It’s been the same story since Angeli went down. A putrid offense that can’t consistently pass the ball.
Despite Filardi and Carney producing next to nothing, Brown never used Collins. It’s a sign of the coaching staff’s lack of trust in the redshirt sophomore. Last spring, Collins was viewed as SU’s potential quarterback of the future. Now, he might never play a snap for the Orange ever again.
It’s a nightmare situation for Brown, who’s left to pick up the pieces of this mess. Until Brown figures out his quarterback dilemma, the losses — like Friday’s — will continue to pile up.
