SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR) -- In a matchup of two teams with 7-3 records, Syracuse controlled much of the game and was able to hold off a late Connecticut rally to beat the Huskies 31-24. It certainly didn't take long for the Orange to set the tone. Kyle McCord connected with Darrell Gill, Jr. on the very first offensive play of the game for 53 yards. Then, on the very next play, McCord hit Oronde Gadsden for a 22-yard touchdown. UConn tied up the score on a long touchdown run. Facing a 4th-and-1 in their own territory, the Huskies went for it and it paid off. Cam Edwards broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and raced 71 yards to make it 7-7. SU pulled back ahead on the ensuing possession. McCord capped off the drive with a three-yard pass to Trebor Pena. LeQuint Allen added a short, one-yard touchdown run late in the half to make it 21-7. UConn cut the deficit in half with a five-yard touchdown catch by tight end Louis Hansen with :32 left in the second quarter. Syracuse racked up 384 total yards in the first half to 194 for UConn. Kyle McCord had 333 yards passing at the break and Darrell Gill, Jr. was over 100 yards receiving. After both teams traded field goals in the third quarter, SU created some separation on one-yard touchdown plunge by McCord with 10:09 to play. UConn found the end zone with 1:29 left to make it close. The Orange, however, recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock to win it 31-24. Kyle McCord finished with 470 yards passing. Gill was one of three SU players over 100 yards receiving. Gill went for 177 yards on nine catches. Jackson Meeks and Oronde Gadsden both finished with more than 100 yards receiving as well. This marks just the second time since 2001 that Syracuse has won eight game during the regular season. Next up, will be a visit from #8 Miami in the regular-season finale. You can watch the full post-game press conference in video Player above.