ORLANDO – The Syracuse Orange headed into this game looking for not only their first bowl win since 2013, but also their first 10-win season since 2001.
It wasn’t easy at times, battling back and forth trading score for score. But in the end, they got it done.
The game started in a stalemate, with neither team able to make it into enemy territory. West Virginia ended that with a 10-play, 45-yard drive that resulted in a 28-yard field goal with 6:42 left in the first quarter and a 3-0 lead.
The Orange answered back on the following drive with a 91-yard drive capped off with a 4-yard touchdown run by running back Abdul Adams. With the extra point, the Orange was ahead 7-3.
West Virginia started the second quarter with an interception of Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungey, which gave it great field position to start its drive off.
The Mountaineers (8-5) capitalized on it with their first touchdown of the game, a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Kennedy McKoy.
After a missed PAT, the score was 9-7 in favor of West Virginia with 13:52 to go in the first half.
Syracuse then followed that up with Adams’ second rushing touchdown of the game – this time a 1-yarder – to reclaim the lead, 14-9.
West Virginia followed that up with two straight field goals to take a 18-17 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
The Orange (10-3) rattled off 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win their first bowl game in five years.
Dungey earned MVP honors following his performance of 21-30 passing for 303 yards and one touchdown.
The senior got emotional following his last collegiate game.
“It’s kind of starting to hit me now. I’m just very thankful,” Dungey said. “I know I’ve been through a lot. To have Coach Babers believe in me, it just means a lot, you know.”
GAME NOTES
Adams led both teams with two rushing touchdowns.
In the place of Will Grier, Mountaineers quarterback Jack Allison threw for 277 yards on 17-of-35 passing. He failed to throw or rush for a touchdown.
Wide receiver David Sills caught four balls for 90 yards.
McKoy led the Mountaineers rushing attack with 73 yards on 17 carries, along with the team’s lone touchdown.
