Observations from Syracuse’s loss to UNC: QB drama, all out mess
Despite starting strong by allowing just six points in the first half, Syracuse's defense fell apart in the second, including allowing 182 total yards to running back Demon June. Lars Jendruschewitz | Senior Staff Photographer
Get the latest Syracuse news delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to our sports newsletter here.
Syracuse’s season is in utter disarray. The campaign began as the next step after Fran Brown’s 10-win debut season. The Orange went 3-1 and took down Clemson in Death Valley for the first time ever. What followed was a four-game losing streak where quarterback Rickie Collins failed to continue Steve Angeli’s success.
With SU needing three wins in its last four games to clinch a fourth-consecutive Bowl Game, Brown shifted gears to true freshman walk-on Joe Filardi. In a blowout, Syracuse ignited off a defensive touchdown but couldn’t establish any passing game.
UNC ran the ball straight through SU’s defense while Filardi and Luke Carney combined for just 39 passing yards. The Orange dropped their fifth straight game.
Here are some observations from Syracuse’s (3-6, 1-5 Atlantic Coast) 27-10 loss to North Carolina (3-5, 1-3 ACC) Friday:
QB drama
Brown first hinted at a quarterback change Monday, saying the Orange would compete throughout the week for the starting job. He doubled down on Wednesday when speaking with ESPN radio. The change went into effect Friday afternoon, but rather than it being Carney at the helm, it was the walk-on Filardi.
The Orange began in a five-out formation, giving Filardi a chance to air it out. He quickly came under pressure and didn’t attempt a pass as SU went three-and-out. He passed twice on his second drive but couldn’t connect again. Following Syracuse’s defensive score, Filardi used his legs to get the game moving. He kept the defense honest and allowed the Orange to run rampant for 44 yards in the first quarter.
There were still the freshman jitters. A fumbled snap. False starts and delay of games. It’s all that comes with playing an 18-year-old under center.
Former Syracuse star quarterback Kyle McCord stood along SU’s sideline throughout the game as his Philadelphia Eagles are on a bye week. Angeli sat on the bench with a boot on his left leg. Filardi was the one in charge.
He began the second half with a completion to Emanuel Ross for eight yards, but the Orange couldn’t get anything going, prompting a switch to Carney. SU’s other true freshman used his legs to move the sticks, but Syracuse still couldn’t throw the ball. A game of musical true freshman quarterbacks emerged, as Filardi entered back in to hand the ball off. The drama ended in misery, as the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the Collins era.
Beating Belichick
Playing a true freshman walk-on is crazy in general. Playing one against Bill Belichick? Now that’s crazy. Belichick, the mastermind behind the New England Patriots dynasty, is not having a pretty first season as a college head coach. The Tar Heels entered Halloween without a win over a Power Four opponent.
Belichick stood stoically, as normal, along the sidelines. He sported a Carolina blue visor, a navy sweat suit and white shoes. The defensive guru brought along his son, Steve, as the defensive coordinator, and they stalled any Syracuse offense. Brown, while in just his second year as a head coach compared to Belichick’s 30, came to play.
The Orange adjusted their offense to run the rock. Filardi began the day 0-for-8 and 1-for-11 in the first half, but SU still led for the majority of the half. The Tar Heels also had four penalties to SU’s one through the first 30 minutes. Syracuse wasn’t close to perfect, needing to use multiple timeouts to avoid poor defensive alignments and offensive delay of games.
Brown attempted to play the field position game, by passing a field goal from the 37-yard line, intentionally taking a false start and punting the ball through the back of the endzone. The Orange, in their current state, certainly weren’t ready to beat Belichick.
Defensive standard
Just a week ago, Syracuse’s defense allowed Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King to breeze past it for five touchdowns en route to a blowout. GT is one of the highest-powered offenses in the nation. The Tar Heels are the opposite, as they entered with 18.3 points per game and failed to score over 20 points against a Power Four opponent.
The Orange started quickly versus the Yellow Jackets and forced a fumble on the second play of the game. Late in the first quarter Friday, Devin Grant lived up to his “Showtime” moniker. He punched out a catch from Shamar Easter as Anwar Sparrow scooped the ball and returned it for 51 yards, taking a 7-3 lead.
Despite a nonexistent passing game for Syracuse’s offense, the defense held its own early with a bend-don’t-break mentality. The Tar Heels’ running game thrived all day with 122 yards in the first half and Demon June racked up 80. The Orange’s interior tackles, Dion “Tank” Wilson Jr. and George Rooks Jr., made a huge third-down stop at the end of the first half to force a field goal and maintain the slim lead.
June’s stardom continued into the second half to turn the game around. June took a quick pass for 72 yards to the endzone, flipping the game in UNC’s direction.
Syracuse’s rushing defense completely collapsed as June continued to power. Another rushing touchdown, this one from five yards out, gave North Carolina a 10-point lead, an insurmountable amount considering SU’s lack of offense.
An all out mess
A year ago, McCord led Syracuse to the top passing offense in the country. While McCord moved on to the pros, the Orange retained offensive coordinator Jeff Nixon and quarterbacks coach Nunzio Campanile. SU also reloaded weapons, building around returners and bringing in transfer Johntay Cook II.
Yet, after Angeli’s injury, the world came crashing down. McCord’s fewest completions in a game last season was 24. The Orange mustered four completions as an unconventional look to two true freshmen rather than Collins, who struggled in his four opportunities but showed some progress.
The turn to two freshmen made a mockery of the program. Giving the players an opportunity is one thing. Doing so against one of the greatest minds in the sport’s history is laughable. The future is likely bright for Syracuse under Brown, but this sets back the standard he set in 2024, instead honing in on a rebuilding year.
