SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Sean Tucker ran for three touchdowns and a career-high 232 yards, Garrett Shrader threw for one score and ran for another, and Syracuse defeated Wagner 59-0 on Saturday to remain unbeaten.
With the win, the Orange moved to 5-0, the program’s first 5-0 start since 1987 when Syracuse went 11-0.
Wagner (0-4), a Championship Subdivision team, has now lost 24 straight games and is winless under third-year head coach Tom Masella. The Seahawks have not won a game since beating Long Island University on Sept. 28, 2019 and have been outscored 152-14 over their past three games.
Shrader ran it in from the 1-yard line just over three minutes in to begin the rout, and Tucker broke off a 60-yard run six minutes later. Tucker also scored on runs of four and six yards, all coming in the first half.
The Orange led 49-0 at halftime. Both teams agreed to then play two, 10-minute quarters after halftime due to the lopsided score.
The Orange amassed 631 yards of total offense and its defense limited the Seahawks to 50 yards on 38 plays, four first downs, and sacked quarterback Ryan Kraft three times. Cornerback Duce Chestnut intercepted Kraft and returned it 28 yards for a score.
Shrader completed all 17 passes of his passes for 238 yards and spread the ball to eight different receivers before being removed after three quarters. Freshman LeQuint Allen rushed for 112 yards, including a 90-yard run, and scored from eight yards out.
Kraft was 2-of-6 passing for just 19 yards.
THE TAKEAWAY:
Wagner: After playing Syracuse and Rutgers in its first four games, Wagner faces more reasonable competition the rest of the way.
Syracuse: It’s hard to take much away from a mismatch, but Syracuse can take a breather and enjoy its status as one of the nation’s unbeatens. The Orange’s remaining schedule, however, is daunting. Syracuse faces five Top 25 teams in its final seven games, with only three in the friendly confines of the JMA Wireless Dome.
UP NEXT:
Wagner visits Columbia University on Saturday.
Syracuse has a bye week and then closes out a four-game homestand against No. 10 North Carolina State on Oct. 15.
___
More AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25. Sign up for the AP’s college football newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mrxhe6f2