University of Louisville
7-4 , 5-3
Syracuse
4-7 , 1-6
Cunningham's 6 TDs Lead Louisville Past Syracuse 56-34
November 23, 2019 | Football
Cunningham finished with 298 total yards, five passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the win.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Micale Cunningham passed for a career-best five of six touchdowns accounted for, including a 14-yarder with 1:24 remaining to seal Louisville's 56-34 victory over Syracuse on Saturday.
Cunningham passed for three TDs and rushed for a 20-yard score in the first half alone on a cold, misty afternoon. The sophomore added a 28-yard scoring pass early in the third, one of several the Cardinals needed during a wild second half in which the schools alternated touchdowns three times.
The sophomore's final TD pass might have been his most critical for Louisville (7-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) as Syracuse tried to rally. The Orange turned it over twice on downs deep in Louisville territory, with the last ending on three consecutive penalties and a failed a fourth-down pass.
Javian Hawkins' 47-yard run set up Cunningham's 14-yard TD pass to Tutu Atwell as the bowl-bound Cardinals capped conference play with another victory in their turnaround season. They also ended the postseason prospects for Syracuse (4-7, 1-6) a season after the Orange won 10 games including a bowl.
Cunningham completed 11 of 20 passes for 238 yards and rushed eight times for 60. Hawkins established a school rushing record for a freshman by totaling 233 yards on 23 carries.
Atwell added 152 yards receiving to break 1,000 as well, highlighted by a 90-yard TD in the second quarter.
Moe Neal rushed for 163 yards and a TD while Syracuse quarterback Tommy DeVito passed for 153 and two scores before leaving in the fourth.
There was a scary moment early in the third quarter as Syracuse kicker Sterling Hofrichter was injured after being accidentally kicked in the head by a teammate on a punt return. The senior was able to get up and walked off the field to cheers.
THE TAKEAWAY
Syracuse: A week after a 46-point road rout of Duke, the Orange played catch-up all day to the Cardinals. They made it interesting in the fourth but couldn't convert fourth-down chances deep in Louisville's end.
Louisville: The Cardinals outgained Syracuse 608-510 and came up huge on third down, converting 8 of 11 chances. Cunningham's arm and feet were key, though he had plenty of help from Hawkins and Atwell.
UP NEXT
Syracuse hosts Wake Forest on Saturday.
Louisville visits archrival Kentucky on Saturday in a clash for the Governor's Cup.
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Team Stats
SU 0, UL 7
UL - Ford, M. 7 yd pass from Cunningham, M. (Chalifoux, R. kick) 10 plays, 77 yards, TOP 4:31
SU 3, UL 7
SU - Szmyt, A. 33 yd field goal 8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 2:23
SU 3, UL 14
UL - Dawkins, S. 29 yd pass from Cunningham, M. (Chalifoux, R. kick) 1 plays, 29 yards, TOP 0:06
SU 3, UL 21
UL - Cunningham, M. 20 yd run (Chalifoux, R. kick), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 3:16
SU 10, UL 21
SU - Hackett, A. 20 yd pass from DeVito, T. (Szmyt, A. kick) 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:39
SU 10, UL 28
UL - Atwell, T. 90 yd pass from Cunningham, M. (Chalifoux, R. kick) 2 plays, 94 yards, TOP 0:42
SU 13, UL 28
SU - Szmyt, A. 46 yd field goal 9 plays, 36 yards, TOP 3:31
SU 13, UL 35
UL - Davis, J. 28 yd pass from Cunningham, M. (Chalifoux, R. kick) 1 plays, 28 yards, TOP 0:19
SU 20, UL 35
SU - Neal, M. 45 yd run (Szmyt, A. kick), 2 plays, 58 yards, TOP 0:36
SU 20, UL 42
UL - Hall, H. 12 yd run (Chalifoux, R. kick), 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:21
SU 27, UL 42
SU - Howard, J. 16 yd run (Szmyt, A. kick), 3 plays, 63 yards, TOP 0:48
SU 27, UL 49
UL - Hawkins, J. 44 yd run (Chalifoux, R. kick), 4 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:36
SU 34, UL 49
SU - Jackson, T. 9 yd pass from DeVito, T. (Szmyt, A. kick) 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 5:13
SU 34, UL 56
UL - Atwell, T. 14 yd pass from Cunningham, M. (Chalifoux, R. kick) 8 plays, 94 yards, TOP 5:10
