Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena, right, runs with the ball after a catch during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus scores the game’s first touchdown in the first quarter. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State offensive lineman Christian Hilborn (61) and quarterback Jaxon Potter (5) celebrate after a touchdown against Syracuse during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) and tight end Maximilian Mang (0) celebrate after a touchdown against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord passed for 453 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-35 victory over Washington State in the Holiday Bowl on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium. (Photo by Meg McLaughlin, The San Diego Union-Tribune/SCNG)
Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena (2) celebrates after a touchdown against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) celebrates after a touchdown against Syracuse during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State players celebrate a touchdown against Syracuse during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse fans watch during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Marcellus Barnes Jr. (7) celebrates during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse celebrates a touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II during the Holiday Bowl on Friday at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday. (Meg McLaughlin/The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Alijah Clark (5) and defensive lineman Maraad Watson (88) hug during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) and offensive lineman Josh Ilaoa (55) celebrate after a touchdown against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse fans question a call during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A pylon sports the Holiday Bowl logo during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Alijah Clark (5) celebrates during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) is carried back by Syracuse defense during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse tight end Oronde Gadsden II (19) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Washington State defensive back Jamorri Colson (29) during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Washington State defensive back Tyson Durant (5) during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive lineman Maraad Watson (88), center, smiles during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse running back LeQuint Allen (1) runs the ball in for a touchdown against Washington State defensive back Tyson Durant (5) during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Jalil Martin (17), celebrates after his interception against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Jalil Martin (17) reacts after an interception against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Jalil Martin (17) celebrates with defensive back Duce Chestnut (0) after his interception against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse defensive back Jalil Martin (17) celebrates with teammates after his interception against Washington State. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse linebacker David Omopariola (18) tackles Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State wide receiver Tony Freeman (0) runs the ball against Syracuse during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse linebacker David Omopariola (18) and defensive back Jalil Martin (17) celebrate after an interception against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse linebacker David Omopariola (18), defensive back Jalil Martin (17), and defensive back Duce Chestnut (0) celebrate after an interception against Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State long snapper Durham Harris (99) and quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) hug as they look on from the sidelines during the Holiday Bowl game against Washington State at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown holds up the championship trophy after the Orange beat Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse offensive lineman Josh Ilaoa (55) holds the championship trophy after the Orange beat Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse running back Tyler Chandler (31) watches the trophy celebration on a teammate’s back during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
American competitive eater Joey Chestnut holds eggnog during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown throws eggnog on his team after the Orange beat Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Syracuse head coach Fran Brown throws eggnog on his team after the Orange beat Washington State during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Fireworks explode overhead during the national anthem before the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus (4) sports In-N-Out Burger themed socks during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
A Holiday Bowl patch is seen on Syracuse place kicker Jackson Kennedy’s (96) jersey during the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium on Friday, Dec. 27, 2024 in San Diego, CA. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
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Syracuse wide receiver Trebor Pena, right, runs with the ball after a catch during the Holiday Bowl against Washington State on Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)
SAN DIEGO — There are those who thought Washington State didn’t have a prayer against Syracuse coming into Friday night’s Holiday Bowl.
So Washington State acting head coach Pete Kaligis provided one on the eve of the 45th annual game.
“As we’ve gone through this, I do thank my Heavenly Father for giving me an opportunity to lead,” Karligis said. “I’m on my knees before him to lead these men in His way, not my way. That’s No. 1 to me.
“I know we’re up against a very, very, very, very good opponent.”
Syracuse proved just how good in a 52-35 victory over Washington State before an announced crowd of 23,920 at Snapdragon Stadium. Washington State (8-5) gave Syracuse (10-3) a game, but didn’t have enough to prevent the Orange (No. 21 in the CFP rankings) from earning the eighth 10-win season in the program’s 136-year history.
“The 10 wins show that we are becoming a successful program … This is just a standard that was set, and we want to go above and beyond,” Syracuse coach Fran Brown said. “These guys did an amazing job and put us in position to where we are now, and I’m hoping that the younger guys can see what they did and go lead even better.”
These were not the same Cougars who beat San Diego State here in midseason.
In the two weeks leading up to the bowl game, the Cougars’ head coach left for Wake Forest. Their offensive coordinator left for Oklahoma. Their quarterback joined the Sooners later. Their defensive coordinator was dismissed earlier.
Washington State’s roster was missing starters at running back, wide receiver, on the defensive line and punter, among other positions, as nearly three dozen players made plans to enter the transfer portal.
“There was a similar situation that happened to Marshall (in the Independence Bowl), and they backed out of their game,” Washington State quarterback Zevi Eckhaus said. “I think that just goes to show who WSU is. Who we are, we’re not going to back down. We had a similar situation happen, but everybody is here. Everybody showed up.
“Everybody that we needed to go out there and perform performed. I mean, speaking from my own behalf, I’m just grateful. I’m grateful to be able to be in this position, to be able to be up here standing and talking to you guys and playing with these guys.”
Washington State made a statement from the start, stopping Syracuse on its opening drive. The Cougars then went 68 yards the other way, capping an eight-play drive when Eckhaus scored on a delayed 4-yard run.
Eckhaus, stepping up because started John Mateer left for Oklahoma last week in the transfer portal, flexed in front of the Washington State band seated in the stands in front of him after he stepped into the end zone. And Washington State, a 17-point underdog, had a 7-0 lead barely five minutes into the game.
Had the Cougars come to play, or was this one of those underdog mirages where the favorite scores the next six touchdowns?
That question was answered before the first quarter concluded as the teams traded touchdowns.
Syracuse took a 14-7 lead on a 19-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kyle McCord to wide receiver Trebor Pena and a 12-yard rush by running back LeQuint Allen midway through the opening period.
Washington State responded quickly, getting a 66-yard touchdown pass from Eckhaus to wide receiver Kyle Williams.
When the Cougars forced Syracuse to punt late in the period, it appeared the score would be 14-14 as the first quarter ended. But Washington State’s Leon Neal Jr. blocked Jack Stonehouse’s punt and teammate Josh Meredith scooped up the ball and carried it 12 yards to the end zone for a 21-14 Cougars lead.
Meredith was among the Cougars players who announced for the transfer portal but were allowed to play in the game. Maybe playing in his hometown had something to do with Meredith’s decision. Good move. He made a lifetime memory.
After a quarter it looked like maybe, just maybe, Washington State had an upset up its sleeve.
Syracuse flipped the script in the second quarter, however, scoring 21 unanswered points on a pair of touchdown passes from McCord to Oronde Gadsden II and another short touchdown run by Allen.
Gadsden’s second touchdown was especially costly for the Cougars, providing a 35-21 lead for Syracuse with 13 seconds remaining before halftime.
The Syracuse band played Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at halftime, which seemed appropriate given the two quarters just witnessed.
The second half was another story. Washington State gamely played on before Syracuse’s talent took over. The Cougars had no answer for McCord, the nation’s passing yardage leader.
“He kept showing that he was tough, that he was relentless,” Brown said. “He exemplified the art. Everything that I would tell him, he pushed to the team and we just kind of worked together. This is my guy. I love this guy. I truly love him, I care about him, and he’s just that dude for real.”
The Cougars closed within a touchdown, 35-28, on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Eckhaus to Carlos Hernandez with 2:14 remaining in the third quarter.
The Orange answered within a minute of the Cougars’ score when McCord hit Pena with a 45-yard touchdown pass that made it 42-28.
Syracuse put the game away when defensive back Jalil Martin intercepted Eckhaus 45 seconds into the fourth quarter and Orange kicker Jackson Kennedy followed with a 30-yard field goal to make it 45-28. Allen’s third touchdown, on a 33-yard pass from McCord, made it 52-28.
Eckhaus (31-for-43, 363 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) added a 9-yard touchdown pass to Branden Ganashamoorthy to complete the scoring with nine seconds remaining in the game.
“There was a lot of questions asked about what team would show up, and I know it’s disappointing,” Kaligis said. “That’s on me. That’s not even on these young men, and I’ll take it all, because they fought. They fought, and I’m so proud of them. I am so proud of them.”
NOTABLE
• McCord was selected Offensive MVP after completing 24 of 34 passes for 453 yards and five touchdowns, one shy of the Holiday Bowl record set last year by USC quarterback Miller Moss. Syracuse defensive back Alijah Clark was named Defensive MVP after collecting six tackles and an interception.
McCord finished the season with 4,779 passing yards, breaking the ACC record held by Clemson’s Deshaun Watson (4,593 in 2016).
Allen rushed 17 times for 120 yards, putting him over 1,000 yards for the season.
• Williams had 10 receptions for 172 yards for Washington State for 160 yards, breaking the Holiday Bowl receiving yardage record of 168 yards by Oklahoma State’s Dez Bryant in 2008.
• The 816 combined passing yards broke the Holiday Bowl record of 791 set in the 1989 game between Penn State and BYU.
• Sign of the times … Washington State linebacker Keith Brown was here for his third straight Holiday Bowl – with his third different team. Brown started for Oregon in the 2022 game and was here with Louisville last year. He is only a junior, so Brown has a shot at a four-peat next year.
• The game was guaranteed to have the smallest crowd in the Holiday Bowl’s 45-year history because it was moved this year to the 32,500-seat Snapdragon Stadium. While attendance was announced at 23,920, there were an estimated 18,000 fans in the stands.
• The 35-point first quarter was the fourth-most points scored in any college football quarter this season. The Holiday Bowl record for points in a quarter is 38, during the 2014 game between USC and Nebraska.
• The over/under at kickoff was 57.5 points. The teams combined for 56 points by halftime, breaking the record of 45 scored in the 1990 game between Texas A&M and BYU. The 87 total points were tied for fifth-most in the game’s history. The record is the 91 points scored in the 1980 Miracle Bowl in which BYU beat SMU 46-45, followed by the 2001 game (Texas 47, Washington 43), the 1989 game (Penn State 50, BYU 39) and 2014 game (USC 45, Nebraska 42).
The total points would have been a record 93 had the Cougars not missed 41- and 37-yard field goal attempts.
• The much-maligned Snapdragon Stadium field looked good and played good. The TifTiuf turf received two green thumbs up from amateur agronomists.
UP NEXT
Syracuse opens its 2025 schedule against Tennessee at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Aug. 30.
Washington State must hire a new coach for next season, which begins Aug. 30 in Pullman against Idaho, its neighbor on the Palouse.
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