Piling up well over 600 yards of offense, Syracuse football is 5-0 for the first time since 1987 - and just the fifth time since WWII The Orange ran for nearly 400 yards and a 59-0 win over Wagner.
Behind 232 ground yards, Sean Tucker zoomed to seventh all-time in Syracuse history with 2,668 career rushing yards scoring three times, bringing his career rushing touchdowns total to 21, tied for 11th most in program history. QB Garrett Shrader threw a perfect game with 17 completions on 17 attempts, covering 238 yards. He accounted for three touchdowns as well, two in the air and one on the ground. His 100-percent completion percentage is a first in program history for any player with 10-or-more attempts.
The Orange did not punt or turn the ball over, the only drives on which Syracuse did not score were the first and second halves ending. The Orange scored touchdowns on their first six possessions of the game. It was the first time since 1998 that a Syracuse team did not punt.
After the Orange jumped out to a 49-0 lead at the break, the teams elected to play 10-minute quarters for the entirety of the second half. It was the first time Syracuse has shut out its opponent since the 2019 season opener.
In addition to Tucker's stellar day on the ground, backup RB LeQuint Allen ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, breaking off a 90-yard run to become the first Syracuse player to go for a run of at least 90 yards since George Davis went for 95 against Fordham in 1949.
For the fourth time in five games this season, Syracuse scored on its opening possession as Shrader punched in a 7-yard run to cap a 55-yard drive.
On the next possession, Sean Tucker went for a 60-yard run, surpassing the 2,500 career yard mark along the way to put the Orange up 14-0. Tucker scored again with 48 seconds left, going from 4-yard out. The 21-0 lead marked the most points scored by the Orange in the first quarter this season.
Four minutes into the second quarter, Shrader connected with Umari Hatcher for a 16-yard touchdown, the first catch and score of the young receiver's career. One drive later, Devaughn Cooper reeled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Shrader. Andre Szmyt converted the PAT, scoring the 400th point of his career, the first Syracuse kicker to hit that milestone and the 28th kicker in FBS history to the mark.
Thirty seconds later, Duce Chestnut grabbed a pick-six, the second interception-to-touchdown for Syracuse this season, putting the Orange up 42-0 midway through the second quarter.
Tucker punched in his third touchdown of the day from six yards out and a 49-0 Syracuse lead going into halftime. It was his 21st career rushing touchdown, pulling even with Malcolm Thomas for 11th all-time at Syracuse.
Allen put the Orange up 56-0 midway through the shortened quarter behind an 8-yard rush. With no time left on the clock for the third quarter, Allen busted out his 90-yard run yard before he was bumped out just six yards from pay dirt.
Szmyt connected his only field goal of the day, a chip shot from 20 yards out for a 59-0 final.
Shrader and Carlos Del Rio-Wilson combined to throw 18 completions on 18 chances, accounting for 243 yards.
Tucker and Allen combined for 342 yards on the ground, becoming the first duo with at least 100 yards rushing since Tucker and Shrader did likewise last season at Virginia Tech. The 631 total yards of offense marked the second time in as many years the Orange have piled up at least 600 yards of offense.
Holding a 5-0 record, the Orange head into a bye week before returning to the JMA Wireless Dome for an ACC Atlantic Division clash against NC State on Oct. 15.
