Syracuse Defeats Virginia 22-20 | College Football Live Updates

Score updates and live analysis for the Virginia football game at Syracuse on Friday

The Syracuse Orange host the Virginia Cavaliers in a Friday-night ACC showdown at the JMA Wireless Dome. Follow along with score updates and live analysis for UVA at Syracuse below. This article will be updated after each drive. Most recent updates are the top. 

Final Score: Virginia 20, Syracuse 22

Virginia Drive - 1:08 4Q

Armstrong keeps it on the first play and runs for 11 yards and first down and gets out of bounds at the UVA 41-yard line. Armstrong throws deep for Dontayvion Wicks but Wicks stopped his route so the pass falls incomplete. Armstrong scrambles ahead for six yards. On third and 4, Armstrong's pass intended for Grant Misch is nearly intercepted, bringing up fourth down. Keytaon Thompson was wide open in the flat, but Armstrong tries to force it to Lavel Davis Jr. instead and the pass is knocked down by Jason Simmons Jr. Virginia turns the ball over on downs and the game is over. Syracuse stays perfect at 4-0 and Virginia drops to 2-2. 

Syracuse Drive - 5:51 4Q

UVA sacks Shrader on third down, but Hunter Stewart is flagged for a facemask, which gives Cuse a fresh set of downs. The UVA defense, which had done such a great job containing Sean Tucker tonight, allows the star back to hurt them on this final drive. Shrader finds Tucker for a 15-yard reception and then Tucker runs couple of times up the middle to get the Orange into UVA territory. Virginia manages to get to Shrader for a sack, but then he scrambles on the next play to get that yardage back and set up a very manageable field goal attempt. Andre Szmyt remains perfect tonight and converts the 31-yard field goal to put the Orange back on top 22-20 with 1:14 left in the game.

Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 4:37 | Outcome: 31-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt

Virginia Drive - 9:48 4Q

Perris Jones runs on three consecutive plays for rushes of nine, nine, and four yards to get UVA near midfield. Armstrong throws to Thompson, who darts ahead for another first down into Syracuse territory. The UVA offensive line creates a big hole for Perris Jones, who bursts through for 28 yards before finally getting brought down at the Syracuse 6-yard line. It takes UVA four attempts but the Hoos finally punch it in on fourth down, as Brennan Armstrong finds Lavel Davis Jr. on a slant route for a touchdown. Will Bettridge knocks through the extra point to give UVA its first lead of the game.

Scoring drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:57 | Outcome: 4-yard touchdown reception by Lavel Davis Jr.

Syracuse Drive - 12:50 4Q

A pair of Sean Tucker runs moves the chains for the Orange, but the UVA defense then comes up with a stop, helped by a Syracuse holding penalty. James Jackson, in for the ejected Nick Jackson, forces Shrader out of bounds on third down to force the punt. 

Virginia Drive - 12:12 4Q

Once again, UVA fails to cash in on the takeaway as Armstrong lofts a terrible pass high into the air that was easily intercepted by Garrett Williams to give the ball right back to Syracuse. 

Syracuse Drive - 14:05 4Q

On third and 3, UVA nearly sacks Shrader, but he manages to toss a pass forward to Courtney Jackson, who runs 15 yards for a first down, but Jackson has the ball jarred loose after the hit by Lex Long. Jackson is called down by contact on the field, but the refs review the play and overturn that call. Virginia forces a fourth Syracuse turnover after the Orange entered the game having not turned the ball over once this season. 

Virginia Drive - 0:24 3Q

Armstrong connects with Keytaon Thompson on the right sideline, who carries multiple defenders for a pickup of 10 yards and a first down. Mike Hollins rushes ahead for eight yards on second down. On third and 2, Armstrong tries to find Ethan Davies but his pass is off target and UVA punts. 

Syracuse Drive - 6:30 3Q

A short run by Sean Tucker and an incompletion brings up third and 9, but Shrader delivers a great ball to Damien Alford for 16 yards and a first down. Nick Jackson comes up and hits Shrader as he was beginning to slide. Jackson is flagged for targeting and UVA loses the leader of its defense for the remainder of the game and the first half of Virginia's next game at Duke. Brutal loss for the Cavaliers. On third and 4, Shrader makes a nice pass to Sean Tucker over the middle for a first down. UVA stops Tucker on first down for no gain, then Ben Smiley gets to Shrader for a sack for a loss of eight yards. On third and 18, UVA drops into a zone and Shrader has forever to throw and finds Devaughn Cooper over the middle for exactly 18 yards and a first down. On third and 7, Fentrell Cypress dives in front of Shrader's pass and intercepts it. However, replay review determines that the ball hit the ground, wiping away the UVA turnover but bringing up fourth down. Andre Szmyt knocks his 40-yard field goal through the uprights to extend Syracuse's lead to 19-13. 

Scoring drive: 14 plays, 58 yards, 6:06 | Outcome: 40-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt.

Virginia Drive - 7:23 3Q

Not a great sequence for the Virginia offense, who fails to maintain the momentum. Jones is tackled for no gain and then Armstrong throws back-to-back incompletions as the Cavaliers go three-and-out. Daniel Sparks booms his punt 59 yards and Pena returns it 12 yards, but that return is called back for a holding penalty. 

Syracuse Drive - 9:26 3Q

The UVA defense continues to hold up its end. Nick Jackson tackles Sean Tucker after a gain of just one and then Jackson stops Shrader after a three yard rush on the next play. Shrader's third-down pass is complete to Maximilian Mang, but he is tackled by Jackson and Lex Long short and of the line to gain and Syracuse goes three-and-out. UVA gets the ball back with a chance to tie or take the lead.

Virginia Drive - 9:40 3Q

Trebor Pena, who took the opening kickoff for a long return to start the game, tries to do that again but this time, he is hit hard by Jonathan Horton and fumbles the ball and it is recovered by Donovan Johnson. UVA with a golden opportunity to get right back into this game. 

Armstrong passes to Keytaon Thompson who runs for a short gain before going out of bounds and the Orange are flagged for a late hit, moving the ball to the Syracuse 4-yard line. Armstrong hands off the Perris Jones, who works his way into the end zone for a touchdown, UVA's second score in the last 30 seconds. Will Bettridge's PAT is blocked and the score remains 16-13. Special teams have not been good for the Cavaliers but the Hoos are back in this game. 

Scoring Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:14 | Outcome: 4-yard touchdown run by Perris Jones.

Virginia Drive - 15:00 3Q

Perris Jones rushes left for a gain of seven yards on the first play of the second half, but then Logan Taylor is whistled for a false start. Penalties continue to be an issue on the mounting pile of problems for the Cavaliers. Armstrong finds Grant Misch for a short gain to set up third and 3. Armstrong connects with Keytaon Thompson on a slant to move the chains. The officials review that play and Syracuse's Justin Barron is ejected for targeting for his hit on Thompson. After a Syracuse offsides penalty, Armstrong rolls out to his left and finds Grant Misch for a nice gain and a first down. Armstrong passes to Jones in the flat who picks up and moves UVA into the red zone for the first time tonight. Jones gets the handoff and makes a nice move to pickup seven yards and a first down. Armstrong keeps it on back-to-back plays and manages it pick up a first down to the Syracuse 2-yard line. With an extra lineman and two tight ends up front, Armstrong pitches to Keytaon Thompson, who muscles his way in for Virginia's first touchdown since the first quarter of the ODU game. UVA initially wanted to go for two, but was called for an illegal substitution penalty. True freshman Will Bettridge comes on instead of Brendan Farrell and converts the extra point to make it 16-7.

Scoring Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:14 | Outcome: 1-yard touchdown run by Keytaon Thompson

Virginia Drive - 1:14 2Q

Syracuse nearly scores a safety as Armstrong is sacked in the end zone, but his forward progress was stopped just ahead of the goal line. Trying to get some breathing room, Armstrong hands off to Mike Hollins, who bursts ahead and powers through a tackle to gain 19 yards and a first down. Armstrong finds Keytaon Thompson on an out route for a first down, but then Armstrong is sacked by Leon Lowery on the next play. Tony Elliott calls his second timeout. Armstrong evades some pressure and dumps a short pass to Mike Hollins, who runs for a first down, but the play is called back for a holding penalty on Jonathan Leech. Interestingly, UVA does not stop the clock again but does run one more play as Armstrong connects with Thompson on the sideline for a pointless gain of 13 yards on the final play of the half. Syracuse takes a 16-0 lead into halftime and Virginia will receive the ball to start the second half. 

Syracuse Drive - 6:43 2Q

Shrader throws over the middle to Gadsden for 21 yards and a first down. Shrader tries to scramble but Paul Akere throws him to the ground with one hand for Virginia's third sack of the game. Shrader makes a great throw on his run to find Pena for another first down. Gadsden makes another catch as he leaps and catches a high pass from Shrader for a first down. Kam Butler gets to Shrader for a sack but Anthony Johnson is penalized twice on the same play (offsides and holding), which negates Butler's sack. UVA stops Tucker for a short gain and then Shrader is forced out of bounds as he tried to scramble to his right for a sack and a loss of five yards to bring up third and goal from the 10. The UVA defense comes up with a crucial stand deep in the red zone as the Virginia pass rush pressures Shrader, who misses on his third down pass. Szmyt knocks the 28-yarder through the uprights to make it 16-0. 

Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 77 yards, 5:22 | Outcome: 28-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt

Virginia Drive - 8:23 2Q

Armstrong throws a short pass to Wicks, who is able to fight for a first down. Perris Jones gets the handoff and runs for 11 yards and a first down. Armstrong steps up and delivers a ball over the middle to Wicks, who drops the pass. It was a low throw but one that Wicks should have caught. Another low throw on a slant pass to Keytaon Thompson results in another incompletion. On third and 10, Armstrong breaks a coupe of tackles but is inevitably sacked by Caleb Okechukwu. Virginia punts again. 

Syracuse Drive - 10:32 2Q

On the first play of the drive, Shrader throws a nice ball to the right sideline that is hauled in by Courtney Jackson for 14 yards and a first down. Shrader throws a short pass to Tucker in the flat and he is brought down by Nick Jackson for a short gain and Tucker is down on the field for a couple of minutes. He eventually gets up to his feet and appears to be okay on the sideline. The Virginia defense holds again, stopping LeQuint Allen on a short run and then forcing Shrader out of bounds for a sack to force a Syracuse punt. 

Virginia Drive - 11:32 2Q

Armstrong throws back-to-back incompletions on deep passing attempts to the right sideline as he fails to connect with Davis or Thompson on either play. A false start brings up 3rd and 15 and Armstrong throws a screen pass to Wicks, who is able to pick up 12 yards to make it a manageable fourth and three. Armstrong tries to throw a quick out route to Keytaon Thompson, but it's batted down by Garrett Williams. Yet again, UVA fails to cash in on the takeaway and the Cavaliers are still scoreless. 

Syracuse Drive - 12:48 2Q

The Virginia defense has done a really nice job containing Sean Tucker so far. Cuse tries to get him going on first and second down, but he isn't able to get far, which brings up third and long. Shrader has all day to throw, but he tries to force it in a tight window and Jonas Sanker steps in front of it for an interception. That's Shrader's first pick of the season and the second takeaway of the game for the UVA defense. Now it's time for the Virginia offense to take advantage in plus territory. 

Virginia Drive - 14:06 2Q

Perris Jones gets tackled for no gain and then Armstrong throws to Wicks on the left side for a pickup of five yards. On third and five, Armstrong tries to go back to Dontayvion Wicks on a deep ball down the left sideline but his pass is too far in front of Wicks, who may have been held a little on his route. Nonetheless, UVA goes three-and-out and the Virginia defense comes back onto the field just trying to keep the Cavaliers in the game. 

Syracuse Drive - 0:47 1Q

Robert Anae gets tricky on the first play as Trebor Pena has the ball pitched back to him in the backfield before throwing a deep ball down the field and Nick Jackson commits a pass interference penalty to prevent the touchdown. The first quarter comes to an end with Syracuse outgaining Virginia 126-42 in total offense. Virginia comes up with an important stop to keep the margin at two possessions as Chico Bennett Jr. sacks Shrader on third down and Syracuse settles for a 32-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt to make it 13-0. 

Scoring Drive: 4 plays, 14 yards, 1:32 | Outcome: 32-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt

Virginia Drive - 0:54 1Q

Brennan Armstrong rushes to the right on a designed run and collides with his own receiver Lavel Davis Jr. and the ball pops free and right into the hands Garrett Williams as Virginia's drive lasts only one play. 

Syracuse Drive - 5:17 1Q

Shrader finds Pena over the middle of the field for a first down. An incompletion and a false start forces Cuse into a third and 9, but Shrader finds Oronde Gadsden over the middle for 29 yards to the UVA 27-yard line. Another Syracuse false start makes it 2nd and 13 and Shrader dumps a short pass to Sean Tucker, who darts ahead for a first down. Linebacker Josh Ahern is down with what appears to be a right shoulder injury. Sean Tucker gets the carry on first and second down and UVA stops him to bring up third and 3. Shrader tries to connect with Damien Alford in the end zone but his pass is high and Cuse settles for a 26-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt to make it 10-0. Good stand for the UVA defense.

Scoring Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 4:17 | Outcome: 26-yard field goal by Andre Szmyt. 

Virginia Drive - 7:20 1Q

Armstrong scrambles ahead for a gain of seven yards to the Syracuse 30-yard line. Xavier Brown stumbles ahead for a gain of one and then Armstrong tries to extend the play on third down but is sacked by Marlowe Wax. Brendan Farrell comes back onto the field and again pushes his field attempt wide right, this time from 49 yards. Two misses from Farrell and the Cavaliers are still scoreless as they are unable to capitalize on the turnover. Shades of the Illinois game. 

Syracuse Drive - 7:27 1Q

On Syracuse's first play from scrimmage, Sean Tucker rushes ahead but Kam Butler punches the ball out from behind and Jonas Sanker recovers it to give the ball back to the Virginia offense at the Syracuse 37-yard line. 

Virginia Drive - 12:18 1Q

Forced into an early third and long, Brennan Armstrong scrambles ahead for a first down. After an incomplete pass and a short run by Mike Hollins, Armstrong converts again as he throws to Dontayvion Wicks, who makes a great catch on the sideline for a first down. Armstrong then goes deep to Lavel Davis Jr., who nearly makes a one-handed catch, but it falls incomplete as Syracuse is called for pass interference. Keytaon Thompson takes the handoff on an end-around for nine yards, but then Perris Jones is brought down for a loss of one and Jonathan Leech is whistled for a false start, forcing UVA into another third and long. Thompson runs a great route and is wide open in the seam, but Armstrong's pass sails too high and UVA settles for a long field goal attempt. Brendan Farrell attempts what would have been a career-high 51-yard field goal, but he pushes it wide right and UVA's drive comes up empty. 

Syracuse Drive - 15:00 1Q

Trebor Pena gives the Syracuse offense excellent starting field position for their first drive as he returns the opening kickoff 57 yards to the UVA 41-yard line. Garrett Shrader completes back-to-back passes over the middle to Oronde Gadsden to get the ball to the UVA 12-yard line. Syracuse goes on the ground to Sean Tucker on two-straight plays and the UVA defense is able stop him for short gains to bring up third down. Shrader passes to Tucker in the flat and Fentrell Cypress forces him out of bounds short of the line to gain and Syracuse is called for a holding penalty. On third and 15, Shrader spots a wide open lane and runs it himself 17 yards into the endzone untouched for a touchdown. The Cavaliers nearly came up with the stop, but the Orange strike first. 

Scoring Drive: 5 plays, 41 yards, 2:42 | Outcome: 17-yard touchdown run by Garrett Shrader