LeQuint Allen powered into the end zone in overtime for the decisive touchdown — his fourth score of the game — as Syracuse nipped No. 23 UNLV, 44-41, on Friday in Las Vegas.
Ranked for the first time in program history, the Rebels (4-1) had to settle for a 41-yard Caden Chittenden field goal on the first possession of overtime. They then appeared to force the Orange (4-1) into a long field-goal attempt, but a roughing-the-passer call gave the visitors new life.
Three plays later, Allen took a handoff and lowered his shoulder into Jackson Woodard before driving him into the end zone for the winning 1-yard score. Allen finished with 19 carries for 71 yards and two TDs and added two receiving scores from Kyle McCord (40 of 63, 355 yards, three touchdowns, one interception).
UNLV quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams went 21 of 25 for 227 yards with three touchdowns and an interception while adding 53 yards and a score on the ground. Ricky White III racked up 10 catches for 135 yards and a TD and also recorded a key punt block for UNLV.
With the game tied at 31-31 midway through the fourth quarter, Woodard intercepted a McCord pass in the red zone. Shortly thereafter, Williams threw a go-ahead 9-yard TD strike to White with 2:58 to go.
The Orange drove back down the field, cashing in on McCord’s 6-yard, back-shoulder TD pass to Jackson Meeks with 23 seconds to play. Allen broke a tackle on a fourth-and-1 run to keep the drive alive.
Syracuse jumped out to a quick start, as Allen found the end zone on each of the Orange’s first two drives. Williams answered with consecutive TDs — a 6-yard pass to Kaleo Ballungay and then a 3-yard TD run to draw the hosts even 14-14.
The Rebels then stuffed Orange punter Jack Stonehouse deep in Syracuse territory, bringing him down before he could release the kick. Two plays later, Williams found Casey Cain for a 9-yard score.
Syracuse responded with 17 straight points, including a 6-yard hookup from McCord to Allen early in the third quarter and a 21-yard TD rumble by Yasin Willis to put the Orange up 31-21 midway through the third.
However, UNLV rebounded to score the next 17 points. In the last minute of the third quarter, White blocked a punt by Stonehouse. The ball bounced 45 yards all the way to the end zone, where Charles Correa landed on it for the tying touchdown, setting up the exciting finish.
