Syracuse scores touchdown in final seconds to take down Purdue during fourth quarter shootout

Garrett Schrader hits Oronde Gadsden II for a 25-yard touchdown pass with seven seconds left to lift Syracuse to a 32-29 victory over Purdue on Saturday.

That touchdown throw capped dramatic lead changes in the fourth quarter. Syracuse led 10-9 after three quarters. outshot the Boilermakers 22-20. in the last period. The Orange improved to 3-0, its best start since 2018. Purdue falls to 1-2.

Aidan O’Connell’s 12-yard touchdown pass with 51 seconds left in the fourth quarter gave Payne Durham a 29-25 lead and seemed to seal it for Purdue.

O’Connell, who completed 38 out of 54 passes For 415 yards and three touchdowns, he threw for two fourth-quarter scores to rescue the Boilermakers from a 10-point deficit. Charlie Jones caught 11 passes for 188 yards and one score.

But before those O’Connell heroics, Syracuse scored two touchdowns in a nine-second span to take a 25-15 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

A 46-yard touchdown pass from Schrader to Gadsden on fourth-and-one gave Syracuse an 18-15 lead when Schrader ran for the 2-point conversion. The touchdown came with 8:17 left in the game.

On Purdue’s next possession, SU’s Jatius Geer wrapped up O’Connell as the Purdue quarterback attempted a pass. The ball bounced into the hands of Orange defensive end Kaleb Okechko, who scampered 17 yards into the end zone.

Syracuse led 25-15 at that point, but O’Connell connected with favored receiver Jones for a 55-yard score that put the Boilermakers within 25-22 with 6:41 left in the game. Mitchell Fineran’s 41-yard field goal with 2:54 left could have tied the game.

The teams had met just once before, when Purdue beat the Orange 51-0 at Ross-Ade Stadium in 2004.

Matthew Bergeron #60 picks up Orond Gadsden II #19 of the Syracuse Orange as Gadsden II scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers on September 17, 2022 at the JMA Wireless Dome in Syracuse, New York.
(Brian M. Bennett/Getty Images)

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Takeaway

Purdue: The Boilermakers were without running back King Dorio, who is nursing a calf injury. Durio rushed for 68 yards on 18 attempts with three touchdowns in Purdue’s first two games. Without him, the Boilermakers struggled to get much on the ground, but generally got a lot in the air from O’Connell. The Purdue quarterback had plenty of time in the first half and threw for 175 yards on 21 of 27 attempts. Syracuse put more pressure on him in the second half, but O’Connell was still able to successfully throw deep.

Syracuse: Schrader had been one of the nation’s most accurate passers through his first two games (38-48, .792) this season, but Purdue put constant pressure on him early, causing Schrader to fumble and Abandoned most air strikes. He completed 4 of 10 passes for just 35 yards in the first half. He was much more efficient in the second half, completing 9 of 19 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns. Purdue shut down Syracuse running back Sean Tucker, who rushed 18 times for 42 yards.

Purdue tight end Payne Durham, right, tackles Syracuse linebacker Marlo Weeks (2) and defensive back Justin Barron (23) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Syracuse, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 17. Lost the helmet. , 2022.
(AP Photo/Adrian Krause)

Next up

Purdue hosts Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.

Syracuse continues a four-game homestand Friday night against ACC foe Virginia.