Bright Spots in a Tough Loss | Syracuse Orangemen Football News

Syracuse fell hard to Cal, 21-18, with a shaky offense, mounting penalties, and missed field goals—but don’t write off this team just yet. Tight end Daunte Bacheyie shined with four catches for 73 yards and a TD, earning praise from Coach Fran Brown as a versatile weapon reminiscent of Oronde Gadsden. On defense, linebacker Chris D’Appolonia led the charge with 11 tackles and two for loss, showing poise and grit despite a key play being nullified by penalty. Returners Davien Kerr and Demetres Samuel had explosive moments that were erased—frustrating, but promising when they clean up the mistakes. Even in defeat, there’s momentum: emerging offensive talent, a resilient defense, and a roster full of potential. The message? Keep building, keep learning, and keep moving forward. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2026/09/overlooked-and-overheard-from-syracuse-footballs-loss-to-cal-were-gonna-cause-a-lot-of-problems-in-the-acc.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/6404b05dd42266e1 Report issues to [email protected].