Emmet Kenney's last-second field goal propels Stanford to a 26-24 win against Syracuse.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Emmet Kenney kicked a 39-yard field goal as time expired, leading Stanford to a 26-24 victory over Syracuse on Friday night. This win marked the Cardinal's first in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I felt really confident out there mainly because I have the best snapper, holder, and line blocking in the country,” Kenney said. "They did their job all night, helping me do mine. Once I saw it sail through, it felt like a dream come true."

Syracuse (2-1, 1-1 ACC) took a 24-23 lead with 3:13 remaining after Kyle McCord connected with Jackson Meeks for a 13-yard touchdown. However, Ashton Daniels led the Cardinal (2-1, 1-0) down the field for the winning score, highlighted by a pivotal 27-yard completion on fourth-and-9 to Elic Ayomanor.

“This was something special for us, obviously, our first ACC game," said Daniels. "That's history for us, and I won't lie, we've struggled the last two seasons. This win was huge, and guys couldn't control their emotions. I have so much trust and respect for my connection with Elic ... I knew he was my go-to.”

Kenney also successfully kicked field goals of 38, 51, and 35 yards.

In a pivotal moment, safety Mitch Leigber intercepted a McCord pass intended for Dan Villari at the Stanford 29 and returned it for a touchdown, extending Stanford’s lead to 20-10 with 4:16 left in the third quarter. This marked Stanford's first pick-6 since September 2021. McCord later scored on a 19-yard run, narrowing the gap to 20-17.

Daniels completed 23 of 38 passes for 178 yards and a touchdown to Ayomanor, who made seven catches for 87 yards. McCord went 27 of 42 for 339 yards but threw two interceptions that led to 10 points for Stanford. He was also sacked four times, twice by David Bailey. Trebor Pena was a standout for Syracuse with 10 receptions for 101 yards.

“The first interception was a miscommunication with Dan, but I take responsibility because I can’t throw it if he hasn’t turned around,” McCord said. “The second one was just a bad decision.”

Syracuse coach Fran Brown defended his quarterback, stating McCord gave the team a chance to win. “He drove us down the field for a potential game-winning drive. Did he throw it to the other team? Yes. But that's football. You can’t expect to pass for 500 yards every game.”

The Cardinal defense was dominant, limiting LeQuint Allen, Syracuse’s leading rusher, to just 25 yards on eight carries. Syracuse as a team managed only 26 rushing yards. Stanford previously held Cal Poly to 25 yards on the ground in their earlier victory.

“The defense has been much more aggressive the last two weeks,” Stanford coach Troy Taylor said.

LIMITING GADSDEN

Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who had 13 receptions in the first two games, was held to just two catches in this matchup.

THE TAKEAWAY

This was a significant win for the Cardinal, who dominated the Orange in the first half and demonstrated they will be a formidable opponent. Conversely, Syracuse must regroup after a performance that lacked offensive cohesion, struggling in both the running game and with McCord’s timing.

UP NEXT

Stanford: The Cardinal face Clemson on the road on Sept. 28.

Syracuse: The Orange host Holy Cross on Sept. 28 in the final game of four consecutive home matchups to start the 2024 season.