Steve Angeli threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Justus Ross-Simmons with 48 seconds remaining Saturday as Syracuse erased a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit to beat NC State 34-31 at Carter-Finley Stadium in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Ross-Simmons also caught the two-point conversion, and Chris D’Appolonia secured a late turnover to seal the victory. The Orange improved to 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the ACC, while the Wolfpack fell to 4-6 and 2-5, according to Syracuse Athletics’ recap and the official box score.
Game highlights: Syracuse at NC State
Orange score 21 points in the fourth quarter
Syracuse entered the final period trailing 28-13. Angeli’s 53-yard completion to Umari Hatcher moved the Orange to the NC State 2, setting up a 3-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Russell III with 12:05 left. Tripp Woody’s extra point cut the deficit to eight.
NC State answered with a 71-yard possession, but Syracuse kept the Wolfpack out of the end zone. Kanoah Vinesett’s 21-yard field goal made it 31-20 with 6:55 remaining.
The Orange punted on their next possession before Tunmise Adeleye changed the game. He intercepted CJ Bailey and returned the ball 18 yards for a touchdown with 5:12 left. Syracuse’s two-point attempt failed, leaving NC State ahead 31-26.
Adeleye then stopped Duke Scott for a 3-yard loss, and Davien Kerr sacked Bailey for a 5-yard loss on third down to force a three-and-out. An NC State unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty after the punt return gave Syracuse possession at the Wolfpack 49 with 3:32 remaining.
Ross-Simmons delivers on the winning drive
Angeli opened the deciding possession with a 13-yard completion to Russell. Facing fourth-and-3 at the NC State 29 later in the drive, he found Ross-Simmons for 5 yards to keep Syracuse’s chance alive.
A 7-yard pass to Russell converted third-and-4 and moved the Orange to the 11. Angeli connected with Ross-Simmons for the touchdown on the next play, completing a nine-play, 49-yard drive. Their successful two-point connection put Syracuse ahead by three.
Bailey’s 27-yard run helped NC State cross midfield on its final possession, and a Syracuse pass-interference penalty moved the Wolfpack to the Orange 30. A subsequent NC State holding penalty pushed the offense back before D’Appolonia’s takeaway ended the threat.
Russell ties reception record, Hatcher reaches 1,000 yards
Russell caught 17 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown, matching the Syracuse single-game reception record Ervin Phillips established Sept. 30, 2017. Syracuse Athletics said it was the most catches by any player nationally since 2024. Russell also gained 24 yards on two carries.
Hatcher finished with four catches for 81 yards and became the eighth Syracuse player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in a season. His long fourth-quarter reception helped launch the comeback.
Angeli completed 27 of 42 passes for 272 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Tylik Hill led Syracuse with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, while Ahmad Miller added 41 yards on 10 attempts. Ross-Simmons finished with two receptions for 16 yards, both on the winning drive.
Rashard Perry and Chris Peal each had six tackles for Syracuse, with Perry recording two tackles for loss. Adeleye finished with four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a shared sack in addition to his interception return. D’Appolonia had five tackles.
NC State builds its lead with third-quarter touchdowns
Woody’s 31-yard field goal capped Syracuse’s opening 13-play, 69-yard drive. NC State took the lead in the second quarter when Bailey finished an 81-yard possession with a 9-yard touchdown run. His 26-yard fourth-down completion to Keenan Jackson extended that drive.
Syracuse answered with a 65-yard possession and Woody’s 35-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half, trimming NC State’s lead to 7-6.
The Wolfpack scored twice early in the third quarter. Scott’s 62-yard run helped set up Bailey’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Chance Robinson. On NC State’s next possession, a 69-yard completion to Davion Dozier preceded Davion Gause’s 2-yard touchdown run, making it 21-6.
Hill’s 13-yard touchdown run brought Syracuse within 21-13 with 7:21 left in the third. The 75-yard drive included Angeli’s third-and-10 completion to Cole Weaver and two first-down passes to Russell. Scott restored the 15-point margin with a 32-yard scoring run with 2:21 remaining in the period.
Scott finished with 127 yards on 14 carries. Bailey completed 15 of 27 passes for 211 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and rushed for 56 yards and another score. NC State finished with 413 total yards to Syracuse’s 410, but the Orange committed no turnovers and took the ball away twice.
Postgame interviews
NC State interim head coach Todd Goebbel and running back Duke Scott addressed the loss after the game.
NC State interim head coach Todd Goebbel
NC State running back Duke Scott
Syracuse visits Boston College next
The Orange play at Boston College at noon Saturday, Nov. 21, on ACC Network. Syracuse then returns to the Dome for its regular-season finale against Notre Dame.
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