Garrett Schrader threw three touchdowns and ran for two more to lead Syracuse to a 48-14 victory over host UConn on Saturday in East Hartford, Conn.
Schrader went 20-for-23 passing for 287 yards with touchdown throws of 47, 18 and 39 yards, in addition to carrying 13 times for 24 yards with scoring runs of one and seven yards.
Sean Tucker ran for a game-high 112 yards on 27 carries and a score. He also had four receptions for 17 yards for the Orange (2-0), while Oronde Gadsden II had three catches for 45 yards.
UConn (1-2) was led by quarterback Zion Turner, who went 14-for-17 passing for 92 yards and a touchdown, while Nate Carter rushed for 71 yards on 16 carries. Aaron Turner had six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Leading 20-7 midway through the second quarter, the Orange put the game away when Schrader threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Courtney Jackson with 19 seconds left in the half.
The Orange’s defense set up Syracuse’s next score. After Marlowe Wax strip-sacked Zion Turner and recovered the fumble at UConn’s 30, Tucker scored on a two-yard run six plays later to push the lead to 34-7 with 9:30 left in the third quarter.
After Zion Turner’s 56-yard touchdown pass to Aaron Turner pulled UConn to within 34-14, Schrader answered with a seven-yard scoring run to make it 41-14 with 2:29 left in the third quarter.
Schrader’s 39-yard touchdown pass to D’Marcus Adams made it 48-14 with 14:07 left in the game.
Syracuse took a 7-0 lead less than five minutes into the game on Schrader’s 1-yard touchdown run before Andre Szmyt’s 27-yard field goal increased the advantage with 4:26 left in the opening quarter.
The Orange capped their 17-point first-quarter outburst with Schrader’s 47-yard scoring strike to Damien Alford just over a minute later.
UConn responded in the second quarter when Devontae Houston’s 28-yard touchdown run capped a nine-play, 79-yard drive with 11:45 left in the half.
Szmyt’s 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter pushed the Orange’s lead to 20-7.
–Field Level Media