Sterling Hofrichter’s booming 51-yard punt hung in the air for more than five seconds, granting Jamal Custis ample time to race downfield and front Clemson’s punt returner, Amari Rodgers. Custis stood two yards away, inching closer as Rodgers stepped backward to field Hofrichter’s punt.
When the ball reached Rodgers, it bounced off his chest and onto the grass. Custis lunged on top of it, giving Syracuse the ball inside the red zone as the third quarter ended. SU scored on its next drive to begin the fourth. In a game where Syracuse allowed 293 rushing yards and did not score in the final 13 minutes, its special teams kept it competitive.