In a tense fourth-and-9 situation with just 37 seconds left, Stanford appeared ready to let another game slip away against Syracuse on Friday. The JMA Wireless Dome was alive with excitement, but Stanford’s sophomore quarterback Ashton Daniels was struggling with his accuracy throughout the night.
However, before the snap, Daniels spotted redshirt sophomore receiver Elic Ayomanor in a one-on-one matchup. This prompted him to make a decisive call on where to throw the ball.
“We just tried to isolate Elic,” Stanford head coach Troy Taylor said following the game. “We discussed our options—if it’s a zone, we have a set play for the three-receiver side. If it’s man coverage with Elic, he’s got to win.”
Ayomanor, standing at six feet two inches and hailing from Alberta, Canada, certainly made the play count, catching a crucial 27-yard back-shoulder fade that kept Stanford’s hopes alive and positioned them for a field goal.
After a couple of plays aimed at centering the ball, senior Emmet Kenney successfully kicked a 39-yard field goal, securing a 26-24 victory for Stanford over Syracuse—marking their first conference win in the ACC.
While Ayomanor, Daniels, and Kenney were critical to the win, the success of Stanford’s defense also played a significant role. The Cardinal suffocated Syracuse’s rushing game, allowing only 26 yards and forcing Orange quarterback Kyle McCord into two interceptions.
Stanford’s defensive line, led by senior Anthony Franklin and junior Zach Rowell, maintained control throughout the game, effectively shutting down gaps in the Syracuse offensive line. Junior linebacker David Bailey showcased his talent with two sacks and consistent pressure, contributing to Stanford’s seven tackles for loss. Additionally, the defense registered a touchdown through Mitch Leigber’s pick-six in the third quarter.
“They aimed to press and combat their run-past options against a strong RPO team,” Taylor commented. “[McCord] looked experienced at times, and we managed to disrupt him a little bit. Stopping their rushing game rendered them one-dimensional.”
Nonetheless, Stanford faced a challenge in the final moments of the game. With a 23-17 lead and under five minutes to go, Taylor opted to accept a holding penalty after Syracuse failed to convert on third-and-8. The Orange then converted a subsequent third-and-18, sustaining their drive and ultimately scoring to take the lead for the first time.
Despite the offensive struggles, particularly in the second half, Taylor reassured his team, igniting belief that they would leave New York victorious.
“I told them, ‘We’re going to drive down, spot the ball in the middle of the field, and kick a field goal to win,’” Taylor recounted. “They all rallied around that, and we were able to do exactly that.”
After earlier disappointments, including a loss to Sacramento State on September 16, the win over Syracuse signifies that Stanford’s rebuilding efforts may be heading in the right direction.