Garrett Shrader had a hand or feet in four touchdowns, but it was not enough as Syracuse fell at Florida State on a last second field goal on Saturday, 33-30. Shrader’s lone touchdown pass pulled the Orange (3-2, 0-1 ACC) within three points in the fourth quarter, then Andre Szmyt tied the game with a 24-yard field goal with just over five minutes remaining.
SU even had another possession, but were forced to punt. The Seminoles (1-4, 1-2) responded by moving 63 yards in seven plays before knocking through a game-winning 34-yard field goal as time expired.
Shrader had a stellar game with his feet, racking up 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries. His first score was a 55-yard sprint to the end zone in the second quarter, breaking one tackle and making a cutback before going the distance. Szmyt missed the extra point, pulling Syracuse within 9-6 at that point.
Less than four minutes later, Shrader scored again, this time powering into the end zone from five yards out for a 13-9 lead. FSU struck back with a touchdown drive for a 16-13 lead that held to halftime when the Orange handled the clock poorly on their last possession and a bomb into the end zone was intercepted on the last play before intermission.
The two teams alternated touchdowns after the break with Florida State going first, then SU replying in kind. Shrader’s third rushing score came very late in the third quarter, then he added a 26-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Queeley less than five minutes into the final quarter.
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Sean Tucker was slow getting going, but finished the day with his fourth 100-yard game of the campaign, turning 24 carries into 102 yards. The home run was taken out of Tucker’s repertoire in the game, as his longest rush was for 17 yards.
Courtney Jackson had a solid game for the Syracuse receiving corps, grabbing six passes for 57 yards.
Duce Chestnut provided the defensive highlight of the day when he jumped a bubble screen and made a sensational diving interception that set up the game-tying fourth quarter field goal. Mikel Jones and Marlowe Wax each had ten tackles in the game, while Kingsley Jonathan and Terry Lockett each added a sack.
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