HOUSTON — Marquis Spruill delivered the knockout blow to Minnesota via quarterback Mitch Leidner.

Coming off the edge completely untouched, the Syracuse middle linebacker launched himself into Leidner’s abdomen and drove him into the turf with just under a minute left in the Orange’s 21-17 Texas Bowl victory over the Golden Gophers on Friday.

“We played well, there were a few holes here and there, but our team didn’t (let up)” Syracuse linebacker Cameron Lynch said. “We won the game and that is all that matters.”

The SU front seven’s play was representative of its performance throughout the game and the season. Defensive tackle Jay Bromley said the unit is used to having the weight of an inexperienced offense and depleted secondary on its shoulders.

They’ve been resilient, reliable and ready. All season long Bromley and Spruill have paced the group with consistency while outside linebackers Lynch and Dyshawn Davis have provided explosiveness and disruption in the backfield.

On Friday, the backbone of the team stepped up one last time as Bromley, Spruill and Lynch combined for three sacks, five tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

“On defense we’re not just going to let nobody walk all over us, no matter what you do,” Bromley said. “We’re going to hold you to as little points as possible and give our offense a chance.

“That was our defense, give our offense a chance. They may not be great right now, but give them a chance to put some points on the board. And that’s what we did.”

After running out to a 14-3 lead courtesy of two lengthy offensive drives, Syracuse gave up a pair of long touchdown passes in a span of 2:21.

First, Minnesota wide receiver Maxx Williams got behind safety Darius Kelly and Leidner found him for a 20-yard touchdown with 14:55 left in regulation.

Then Golden Gophers wideout Drew Wolitarsky burned cornerback Brandon Reddish for a wide-open 55-yard touchdown as Minnesota went ahead 17-14 soon after.

But the group didn’t allow Minnesota another first down in its next two drives as a sack by defensive end Robert Welsh ultimately forced the Golden Gophers to punt once more at the 2:03 mark.

“We are passing the torch to these other guys, the younger defensive linemen,” Bromley said. “The Micah Robinsons, Rob Welshes, the Isaiah Johnsons. We’re passing the torch to these guys to become playmakers.”

Bromley, undoubtedly the leader of the front four, said Eric Crume will fill his role next season. Lynch will be back, too.

But the hope for Syracuse is the secondary and offense won’t need to rely on the front seven quite as much.

They bent at times on Friday, but like they did most of the season, they played their best when it mattered most.

Said Bromley: “We gave up some busted coverages and whatever, but we take those punches and we roll with them. We go back out and play the defense we know we can play.”

Published on December 28, 2013 at 3:35 am

Contact Stephen: sebail01@syr.edu | @Stephen_Bailey1