Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Syracuse cheerleaders and members of the marching band perform outside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

The Orange takes the field in its season opener against Penn State.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Syracuse running back Jerome Smith runs up the middle, trying to burst by Penn State's Jordan Lucas.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Dyshawn Davis celebrates after wrapping up PSU's Bill Belton. Davis played in front of his great grandparents, and other family members.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Head coach Scott Shafer looks on from the sideline. Shafer coached his first game as a head coach on Saturday.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Marquis Spruill tackles 6-foot-7, 257-pound tight end Jesse James.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Jarrod West rises up to try and corral a pass from Syracuse quarterback Drew Allen in the second quarter.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Syracuse quarterback Drew Allen takes a snap from center Macky MacPherson. Allen finished 17-for-38 with 193 yards and two interceptions in his debut.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg led the Nittany Lions to a 23-17 win over the Orange. Hackenberg, a freshman, finished 22-for-31 with 273 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Defensive end Robert Welsh intercepted a Hackenberg pass in the fourth quarter and returned the ball to the one-yard line. Welsh did a flip toward the goal line but came up a tad short, setting Jerome Smith up for his second touchdown of the game.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Cheering Syracuse fans encircle a melancholy Penn State fan in the second half.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

A host of SU defenders, including linebacker Cameron Lynch, swarm PSU running back Zach Zwinak.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Drew Allen started his first game for Syracuse on Saturday at MetLife Stadium. Allen finished the day 17-of-38 with 193 yards and two interceptions as the Orange lost 23-17 to Penn State.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Spruill hits James, sending him airborne and eventually to the ground.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Tyler Ferguson threw one pass for Penn State when Hackenberg was briefly sidelined. Here, Ferguson hands the ball off to Belton.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Jerome Smith rushed for two touchdowns on the day, racking up 73 yards and keeping SU in the game.

Ziniu Chen | Staff Photographer

Syracuse fans watch the action from above in the second half.