Yardbarker
x
Watch: Purdue's meltdown leads to beautiful game-winning TD by Syracuse
Syracuse Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader (6) is tackled by Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Jack Sullivan (99) on a scramble in the second quarter at JMA Wireless Dome. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Purdue's meltdown leads to beautiful game-winning TD by Syracuse

It looked like the Purdue Boilermakers had the Syracuse Orange on the ropes, but then Syracuse flipped the script.

With 51 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Purdue quarterback Aidan O'Connell found his big tight end Payne Durham wide open between zones in the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown that put the Boilermakers up 29-25 on the road.

It was a huge moment for Purdue and it was Durham's second touchdown of the game. Unfortunately for the Boilermakers, that touchdown was the start of a meltdown, though.

Durham got into a verbal altercation with members of Syracuse's field goal block team on the extra point and was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Purdue's head coach, Jeff Brohm, didn't like that call from the referees, so he started jaw-jacking a bit. Unfortunately for Purdue, that led to another unsportsmanlike penalty, which meant Purdue had to kick off from the 10-yard line, which gave Syracuse great field position for a game-winning drive attempt.

Again, hurting themselves, the Boilermakers were called for defensive pass interference on a 3rd-and-10 incompletion which gave Syracuse fresh life and the chance for one, maybe two shots at the the end zone.

'Cuse took that shot with seven seconds to go, and the result of that gutsy call was one of the prettier touchdown catch and throws you'll ever see.

Syracuse quarterback Garrett Shrader found Oronde Gadsden III on a beautiful corner route and he slipped in past the front pylon of the end zone for an incredible game-winning touchdown.

It was equal parts Purdue melting down and Syracuse seizing the moment.

Syracuse led 10-9 to start the fourth quarter. The final score? 28-27. 30 points were scored between both teams in the fourth quarter. 

It was pure college football magic.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.