Shrader, Defense Shine as Syracuse Dominates Western Michigan
A first-time touchdown for Donovan Brown, three-touchdowns for LeQuint Allen, a superb performance Garrett Shrader and another stellar weekend for the defense paced Syracuse's 48-7 win over Western Michigan. Syracuse walks away undefeated going into week three and while there may be some smiles, a hunger remains present in the face of linebacker, Derek McDonald.
McDonald who has had a sack in each game so far this season and a handful of tackles, when asked about the defense’s dominant performance only giving up seven points in two games. His response was simple.
“Seven points, I guess that is decent," McDonald said. "There are a lot of small things that we can improve on. Not give up any yards, not giving up any first downs. Just playing a little bit better and improving on those little things and we’ll be even more dominate down the line.”
A player who is not satisfied with giving up any yards or first downs is a player you want on your team. The sky is the limit for Syracuse’s defense who remains unsatisfied after only allowing one touchdown in one-hundred and twenty minutes of play.
As for the offense, there was a scare in the beginning of the game when All American wide receiver, Oronde Gadsden went down after his first catch of the game. Gadsden came back on the sideline in a boot with crutches in hand.
This left a door wide open of opportunities for other players to step up and they did. Shrader continued to show off his arm throwing for 286 yards with one passing and rushing touchdown. He laughingly concluded how he may have had a few more touchdowns if it was not for LeQuint.
“I told him I was going to fight him in the locker room jokingly,” said Shrader. “It is good to see LeQuint finish off the drive, selfishly you want to take those touchdowns, but as long as you are scoring touchdowns that is all that matters.
Syracuse will go on the road for the first time this season as they will enter Big Ten soil in West Lafayette. The Purdue Boilermakers pulled off a win against Syracuse’s future opponent, Virgina Tech after a tough week one. This will be Syracuse’s first test this season against a Power Five opponent.
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