SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — LeQuint Allen ran for three touchdowns in the first half, Syracuse scored on six consecutive possessions and the Orange routed Western Michigan 48-7 on Saturday.
Jalen Buckley ran 75 yards for a score on Western Michigan’s second play from scrimmage to give the Broncos (1-1) a 7-0 lead but then Syracuse’s offense took over, scoring 38 unanswered points. Free safety Jason Simmons returned a pick-six 84 yards with time running out in the first half to give the Orange (2-0) a 45-7 lead.
Oronde Gadsden, Syracuse’s leading receiver and pre-season All-American, rolled his ankle on the Orange’s second play from scrimmage and did not return. He was on the sidelines with crutches and a boot.
Syracuse, which amassed 677 yards in its 65-0 win over Colgate, accumulated 496 against the Broncos.
Western Michigan committed nine penalties, including three that kept a Syracuse drive alive, leading to an 18-yard touchdown run by quarterback Garrett Shrader and a 24-7 lead.
Shrader was 19 of 30 for 286 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson took over after intermission.
Broncos quarterback Jack Salopek was sacked three times and finished 15 of 22 for 110 yards and an interception. Buckley was held to 12 yards after his 75-yard touchdown run.
Allen scored on two runs from one yard out and from the two. Ten different receivers caught passes for the Orange. Donovan Brown scored on an 86-yard pass from Shrader.
THE TAKEAWAY:
Western Michigan: The Broncos must clean up their penalties. Five of their nine penalties were majors and can’t continue if Western Michigan is going to have a successful season.
Syracuse: The big question is the status of Gadsden. Syracuse’s receivers stepped up against the Broncos but his loss would be huge as the Orange step up in class.
UP NEXT:
Western Michigan: Broncos travel to Iowa Saturday for second in three-game road swing.
Syracuse: Orange head on the road for the first time with a Saturday night matchup against Purdue.
——-
AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll
