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Syracuse defensive back Clarence Lewis knew the ball was going to wide receiver Elic Ayomanor when the game was on the line. SU was leading Stanford 24-23 with 37 seconds remaining in the game, and the Cardinal faced a do-or-die fourth-and-9 from the Orange’s 45-yard line.

As Lewis opposed Ayomanor along the left sideline, he had no help. There was neither a high safety, nor a linebacker in the vicinity. From the instant he dropped back, Stanford quarterback Ashton Daniels’ eyes never left Ayomanor’s matchup versus Lewis.

At first, Lewis was stride for stride with Ayomanor as they crossed the first down chain near the 36-yard line. As Ayomanor continued making his way downfield, however, he started separating away from the lone defender in sight. Instead of leading his receiver, Daniels dumped a back-shoulder fade to Ayomanor inside the 20-yard line.

“I knew where it was going, I just didn’t know it was going to be a back-shoulder fallout pass,” Lewis said postgame.

Ayomanor’s fourth-down catch set up Emmet Kenney’s game-winning field goal, as Stanford (2-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) defeated Syracuse (2-1, 1-1 ACC) 26-24 in its first ACC game. Throughout the contest, Ayomanor notched seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. His yards from scrimmage led the Cardinal while he scored their only offensive touchdown.

The Medicine Hat, Alberta, native’s matchup was different on the last play than the first. On Stanford’s first drive of the game, Ayomanor was opposed by SU freshman defensive back Marcellus Barnes Jr.

Despite allowing a catch for 10 yards to begin the game, Barnes Jr. served as Ayomanor’s primary defender. Lewis also saw early reps against the 2023 Pro Football Focus First Team Freshman All-American.

However, the Orange’s gameplan significantly changed a drive later. On a second-and-5 running play nearly five minutes into the first quarter, Barnes Jr. attempted to tackle Stanford’s Micah Ford but sustained an injury. He did not return to the game.

On the ensuing play, SU matched Jayden Bellamy against Ayomanor. Instantly, Daniels hunted the matchup. Despite Ayomanor gaining separation, the quarterback overthrew him on what could’ve been a touchdown down the seam.

As the Cardinal moved their way into the red zone, SU still opted to have Bellamy oppose Ayomanor. Similar to the big play attempt down the seam, Ayomanor shook free from the defensive back, but he and Daniels again couldn’t connect — this time on a 17-yard fade into the end zone.

While Daniels and Ayomanor’s rapport seemed off, they made up for it on Stanford’s ensuing play. Instead of lining up out wide like he had on practically every play to that point, the Cardinal moved Ayomanor inside the slot when they faced third-and-9. SU nickel Devin Grant opposed Ayomanor.

Lined up to Daniels’ right, Ayomanor initially performed a stutter step and faked a block to throw off Grant’s timing. In the pocket, Daniels slid to his right as Ayomanor created separation and broke toward the pylon. Despite his receiver again breaking free, Daniels’ throw was erratic. This time, though, the 6-foot-2 receiver jumped up before snagging the ball with one hand, giving the Cardinal a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

“He’s a good receiver,” Lewis said of Ayomanor. “Good speed, good size, physical receiver. It was definitely a sighting going against him most of the game.”

Ayomanor was held to just one catch for six yards throughout the rest of the first half, as he was primarily guarded by Lewis. In the third, the only quarter he was held without a reception, Ayomanor was shaken up by Bellamy.

With Stanford on its 25-yard line, he ran a crossing route from the left side of the field toward the right sideline near midfield. The Orange were playing a zone, so while the receiver found an open spot, Bellamy came crashing down on him to jar the ball free. Ayomanor was checked by trainers but returned to the field at the start of the fourth quarter.

Because the Cardinal didn’t trail for all but three minutes in the fourth quarter, they heavily relied on their rushing attack when their offense wasn’t running through Ayomanor. Facing SU’s defense without Marlowe Wax, Stanford had no problem running the ball, just as Ohio and Georgia Tech did throughout its first two games. The Cardinal tallied 173 rushing yards on 32 attempts.

The difference between the Orange’s first two opponents and the Cardinal, however, is their primary weapon when they need yards most is a receiver. The Bobcats heavily relied on running back Anthony Tyus III, while the Yellow Jackets leaned on quarterback Haynes King and running back Jamal Haynes versus Syracuse.

So, once Kyle McCord connected with Jackson Meeks, giving SU a 24-23 lead with just over three minutes remaining, Stanford leaned on Ayomanor to march it down the field. After picking up a first down on a Ford 10-yard run, Daniels hit Ayomanor on a curl route to get the Cardinal across midfield.

Another first down run put the Cardinal just outside field goal range, but a holding penalty gave them second-and-20 from their own 44-yard line with under a minute remaining. Facing pressure, Daniels quickly keyed in on Ayomanor, giving Stanford a manageable third-and-9 from SU’s 45-yard line. After they didn’t convert on third down, the Cardinal had one last play to put themselves in position for a game-winning field goal. Ayomanor did just that.

“I’m very happy for that kid,” SU head coach Fran Brown said of Ayomanor postgame. “I wish him nothing but the best, that he continues to do well. He’s a good football player and he came out here and (did) a great job.”

Published on September 21, 2024 at 2:52 am

Contact Justin: justingirshon@gmail.com | @JustinGirshon