SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse overwhelmed New Hampshire on Saturday, posting a 66-3 victory in the Orange's season opener as quarterback Steve Angeli returned from last season's torn Achilles to throw three touchdown passes.
Angeli sharp in return; team pours it on
Angeli completed 20 of 29 attempts for 263 yards, connecting on scoring passes of 19 and 18 yards to Umari Hatcher and a 27-yard strike to David Clement. He played into the fourth quarter before being removed with about 10 minutes remaining.
"I think it was solid. I think there's some things we left out there," Angeli said. "Really happy for some guys getting involved and, you know, putting up the points we did, but I think there's a lot left out there that we're going to clean up this weekend and the next week."
Head coach Fran Brown noted some concern when Angeli briefly appeared to injure his right knee in the second quarter, but the quarterback returned immediately and missed only a single snap. Brown later said he graded Angeli's performance a 75 for the day.
Game flow and key performers
Syracuse amassed 513 yards of total offense while holding New Hampshire to 155. The Orange scored on six straight drives after a sluggish opening, and led 41-0 at halftime.
Freshman running back Shavane Anderson carried 102 yards in his Syracuse debut and Tylik Hill added 90 rushing yards and a short touchdown. Ten different receivers caught passes for the Orange, led by Umari Hatcher's eight receptions for 147 yards.
| Statistic | Syracuse | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Total yards | 513 | 155 |
| Leading passer | Steve Angeli — 20-for-29, 263 yards, 3 TDs | — |
| Leading rushers | Shavane Anderson — 102; Tylik Hill — 90 | — |
| Halftime score | 41-0 (Syracuse) | |
What this means for New Hampshire
The loss drops New Hampshire to 0-2 early in the season and exposes the gap between the FCS program and an ACC opponent that, despite some new faces and limited reps, moved decisively on offense. Brooks Bentley, New Hampshire's quarterback, played only the first half.
For the Wildcats, the defeat highlights areas that will need attention as the season progresses: offensive production against higher-tier opponents, defensive adjustments to limit explosive plays, and depth to withstand physical pressure across four quarters.
Coaching and player notes
- Fran Brown praised Angeli's competitiveness after the brief injury scare and stressed the value of live-game reps for an otherwise young Syracuse roster.
- Syracuse's receiver corps showed depth, with 10 players recording catches — a positive sign given significant turnover from last season.
- New Hampshire's limited offense managed only 155 yards total, a statistic that will likely be central in postgame evaluations.
Brown, assessing Angeli's quick post-injury movement, said he was relieved once the quarterback was able to walk off the field and even race him to the sideline. "I started talking to God before I went to him," Brown said, adding he felt a mix of concern and relief as Angeli moved his leg and walked away.
Looking ahead
Syracuse will aim to build on the opener's production as it confronts tougher opponents down the schedule. For New Hampshire, the immediate focus will be on correcting the shortcomings from a game that slipped away by halftime and preparing for upcoming conference play.
Statistics from the game underline the disparity in yardage and playmaking between the teams, and both coaching staffs will return to fundamentals in practice this week as they prepare for the next games on their respective schedules.
Newsroom reporting contributed to this article.
