By james art 
Justus Ross-Simmons hadn’t caught a pass all season for Syracuse until halftime of the eighth game against Virginia Tech. The Colorado State transfer averaged over 60 yards per game with the Rams in 2023. On Saturday, Ross-Simmons provided the start Syracuse needed in a 38-31 overtime win over Virginia Tech.
Ross-Simmons took the field for the fifth time in an orange jersey on Saturday against the Hokies. The junior has been battling a hamstring injury since fall camp. With more than half time in the third quarter, Syracuse trailed Virginia Tech 21-3. The Orange forward had turned the ball over twice and still couldn’t find the end zone. Ross-Simmons turned his first reception from Kyle McCord into a game highlight. On a five-yard return route to midfield, Ross-Simmons broke one tackle and put all others in the rear-view mirror.
“When I was on the sideline, coach Ross (Douglas) said, ‘Jay-Ross, I need you to make a play,'” Ross-Simmons said. “I said, ‘I got you.’ I went in and did just that.”
After LeQuint Allen scored on Syracuse’s next drive, Duce Chestnut forced a Virginia Tech fumble to end the third quarter. Marlowe Wax, in his second game back from injury, recovered it in plus territory for the Orange. Five plays later, Ross-Simmons split the seams for a 28-yard score to give Syracuse its first lead of the game. Three straight touchdowns and two by Ross-Simmons put the Orange up 24-21.
However, the Hokies put together back-to-back scoring drives plus a defensive stop. A touchdown and field goal brought the Orange within a touchdown with five minutes left in regulation.
Kyle McCord and company put together a 14-play touchdown drive, but Allen was the real engine of the offense. The Syracuse running back had the ball on half the plays on the Cuse’s final drive of regulation, including a yard out to turn in the end zone. When Virginia Tech elected to send the game into overtime with the final half minute running out, there was no question where the ball was going for Syracuse. The Hokies won the toss, Syracuse would go on offense first, and it was Allen time.
“We had to get back to basics, get back to who we are and honestly get the ball to the best player,” Syracuse head coach Fran Brown said. “When you can give LeQuint Allen the football, he could play.”
Allen needed just two plays, one reception and one carry, to find the end zone in overtime. The drive ended with three touchdowns and 121 yards rushing for Allen, his first 100-plus-yard day on the ground this season.
After recovering a fumble in regulation, Wax forced a Virginia Tech fumble in overtime to end the game. Syracuse picked up its second overtime win of the season with a 38-31 victory over Virginia Tech, and the Orange also earned a bowl berth with the win.