Texas Bowl Post-Game Recap: In Terrel We Trust

Terrel Hunt runs into the end
zone for the go ahead touchdown.

The Syracuse Orange are your 2013 Texas Bowl Champions!  First and foremost, what an amazing game.  What started out as a defensive showcase in the first half ended with 21 points in the fourth quarter and one hell of a finish.  A HUGE 70-yard punt return by Brisly Estime set up Terrel Hunt's second rushing touchdown of the night with 1:14 left to give Syracuse their third bowl win in four years.

Three Stars:

-Syracuse Run Defense: If you read my preview, my matchup to watch for was David Cobb and the Minnesota rushing attack vs. Syracuse's stingy defense.  This definitely held true in this one, as Minnesota ran the ball 38 times for just 127 yards as a team.  That's an impressive 3.3 yards per rush against for the Syracuse defense, who continued their season long streak of not allowing a 100-yard rusher.  Cobb had 91 yards on 18 carries.

After Philip Nelson struggled early under center, he was replaced by the dual threat redshirt freshman Mitch Leidner.  Syracuse's defense was too much for Leidner who was held to just 1.8 yards per carry. Cameron Lynch and Dyshawn Davis led the way defensively with 8 tackles each.  Lynch also had one of the Orange's 4 sacks on the day.  Minnesota had just 3 points heading into the fourth quarter.

-Terrel Hunt: Hunt looked poised all game, and never once did he seem overwhelmed or uncomfortable even when the offense was struggling early on.  Hunt made good decisions passing the ball going 19-29 for 188 yards and no interceptions.  Where Hunt was really effective though was on the ground.  Hunt scored two of Syracuse's three touchdowns with his feet, including the game winning score with 1:14 left in the game.  He finished with 74 yards and averaged just under 5 yards per carry.

Brisly Estime lays out for a
pass in the first quarter. 

-Brisly Estime: On the first offensive drive of the game, Syracuse was rolling and looked like they were ready to put the ball in the end zone or at least put points on the board.  Estime fumbled after making a nice move in the open field, giving the ball back to the Golden Gophers.  From here on out, Estime came to play.  Estime had five catches for 47 yards, but four of them were for first downs.  In the first quarter Estime layed out for a pass into the end zone and nearly made the catch of the year, but it he couldn't haul it in.  The biggest play of course was the 70 yard punt return to set up Syracuse's game winning touchdown.  Without that return there is a very good chance Syracuse is leaving Texas winless.  I couldn't be more excited about his future.

What this means?
-Syracuse has won another bowl game!  It's great to see where this program has come in the past five or so years.  I remember back in the Greg Robinson days when any talk of a bowl game would have been laughed at.  Now after appearing and winning in three bowl games in four years, Syracuse has established itself as a respectable and proud football program.  Hats off to Scott Shafer on a terrific first season as head coach.

George Morris II will likely be the
main threat in the Syracuse backfield next year.

-The future could be very, very bright.  Yes, that's right.  Syracuse could really be a contender in the ACC next year.  With Terrel Hunt coming back for two more years, along with Jarrod West, Ashton Broyld, and Brisly Estime, the Syracuse offense has a lot to look forward to next season.  With PTG and Jerome Smith likely gone, the backfield duties will likely be given to George Morris II, the freshman who looked good on eight carries tonight.

The defense returns a handful of key players as well, led by Dyshawn Davis, Cameron Lynch, Durrel Eskridge, and Robert Welsh.  They will have some work to do replacing Marquis Spruill and Jay Bromley, but tonight this defense showed that it can be very, very scary when it wants to be.


Final Thoughts:

Syracuse did what it had to do to win against the Golden Gophers.  They really dominated the game until the fourth quarter when things got a little bit more interesting.  There's something about Terrel Hunt's game tonight that has me thinking he has that "clutch" gene.  Seeing him find the lane to take off on third and long with the game on the line was a Syracuse fans' dream come true.  Hunt will obviously be the guy heading into training camp for next season, which will give him advantages he didn't have this year.  Farewell to all the seniors, and you have to realize this senior class was a huge part of turning this program around.  All of them have been a part of the three bowl wins, two under Marrone and now one under Shafer.  Jay Bromley, Marquis Spruill, Jerome Smith, Prince Tyson-Gulley, Macky MacPherson, and many others... THANK YOU!

Let's not forget that Syracuse takes on Villanova in the Dome at 2 p.m. tomorrow, so don't celebrate this win too hard.  Long live the Big East! Beat Nova!

~Ted Gioia