Hunt’s late TD scramble gives Syracuse win at Texas Bowl

HOUSTON – Syracuse coach Scott Shafer wishes his team could have held its double-digit lead over Minnesota and cruised to an easy win in the Texas Bowl on Friday night.

But he found it fitting that the Orange had to eke out the victory, considering the number of close games they played this season.

Terrel Hunt scrambled 12 yards for a touchdown with 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining to lift Syracuse to a 21-17 victory over the Golden Gophers.

“It would have nice if we could have just knocked them out and won by 17 or something,” Shafer said. “That’s kind of not our way this year. I think it was appropriate that we won in that fashion.”

Brisly Estime set up Hunt’s touchdown with a 70-yard punt return. Estime would have scored if not for a tackle by punter Peter Mortell.

It was the second-longest punt return in Texas Bowl history.

“We probably out-punted our coverage,” Minnesota coach Jerry Kill said.

Syracuse (7-6) led 14-3 entering the fourth quarter before Mitch Leidner threw two touchdown passes and a two-point conversion to put the Gophers up 17-14.

After the Orange regained the lead, Minnesota attempted two long passes to the end zone on the final plays. The first slipped through Drew Wolitarsky’s arms and the second, as time expired, was knocked down near the end zone.

Minnesota (8-5) got a boost to start the second half when Kill returned to the sideline for the first time since Sept. 28 before Syracuse came back to send the Gophers to their sixth consecutive bowl loss and second straight in this bowl.

Kill began the game in the press box, where he has observed his team since returning from a leave of absence because of epilepsy.

Kill has had five seizures on game day in two-plus seasons at Minnesota. He took the leave of absence in October and returned a couple of weeks later.

“I felt I would do anything I can to help,” Kill said about joining his team on the sideline. “I’m not sure if it helped or not. Evidently, it didn’t because we didn’t win the game.”

Hunt finished with 188 yards passing and 74 rushing with two scores to earn Most Valuable Player honors.