The Syracuse Orange Football team defeated the Purdue Boilermakers from the Big 10 Conference, 32-29. The team headed into its final non-conference game with a chance to go 3-0 before returning to ACC play on Friday, September 23rd to take on the Virginia Cavaliers.
The Game
Junior Quarterback Garrett Shrader threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II with seven seconds remaining to help the Orange squeak out a 32-29 win over Purdue.
After Syracuse lead the Boilermakers 10-9 after three quarters, the fourth quarter was captivating and entertaining. There were chaotic lead swings and the Orange outscored Purdue 22-20 in the final stanza.
Final Quarter Dramatics
Purdue Quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Payne Durham with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter for a 29-25 lead over the Orange. Before that, Syracuse scored two touchdowns in nine seconds and led 25-15 halfway through the fourth quarter.
Prior to that, Shrader threw a 46-yard touchdown pass from Shrader to Gadsden on fourth and one to put Syracuse up 18-15 after Shrader scrambled in for the 2 point-conversion. The touchdown occurred with 8:17 left in the game.
With Purdue possessing the ball next, Syracuse’s Jatius Greer sacked O’Connell as he dropped back for the pass. The ball landed in the hands of Orange defensive end Caleb Okechuku, who ran it in for a 17-yard pick six.
The Orange were up 25-15, when O’Connell found Jones for a 55-yard touchdown and the Boilermakers made it 25-22. Kicker Mitchell Fineran missed a field goal with 2:54 left that could have tied the game.
The Rundown
The Boilermakers were minus running back King Doerue, who was dealing with a calf injury. Doerue has rushed for 68-yards on 18-attempts with three-touchdowns in Purdue’s first two outings. With his absence, the Boilermakers had a tough night running the ball, but received an abundance of help in the passing attack from O’Connell.
O’Connell had great protection in the first half, throwing for 175-yards on 21-of-27 attempts. Syracuse pressured him more in the second half, but O’Connell still managed to successfully throw deep balls.
Syracuse Orange signal caller Garrett Shrader’s came into the game as one of the most accurate passers in the country (38-48, .792), but Purdue put constant force on him early, forcing Shrader to use his legs more and his arm less.
He was 4-10 for 35-yards in the first half, but was 9 -of-19 for 146-yards and three touchdowns in the second.
Purdue bottled up Syracuse’s star running back Sean Tucker who rushed 18 times for 42 yards.
Looking Ahead
Purdue who is now 1-2 will host Florida Atlantic this Saturday night.
Syracuse who is now 3-0 continues its four-game homestand against ACC foe Virginia this Friday night.
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