No. 15 NC State falls on the road to No. 18 Syracuse, 24-9

SYRACUSE, NY – In a battle of top 25 teams, the No. 18 Syracuse Orange defended its home turf, knocking off No. 15 NC State 24-9.

It was the first time NC State and the Orange faced each other as ranked teams. 

The Wolfpack (5-2, 1-2) fell to Syracuse (6-0, 3-0) for just the third time in the history of the series and the first time since 2018.

Christopher Dunn provided all of the scoring for the Wolfpack. It was the eighth time in his career that Dunn has made three or more field goals in one game. 

Making his first start for the Wolfpack, quarterback Jack Chambers completed 18 of 30 passes for 160 yards. Chambers also led the team in rushing with 58 yards on 19 carries. 

NC State had a season-low 255 yards of total offense. 

Syracuse started the game with a scoring drive, covering 65 yards in five plays, ending with a Garrett Shrader 12-yard touchdown pass to Oronde Gadsden II. It was the first of two connections between the duo.

The NC State defense picked off two passes in the second quarter – one by Tanner Ingle, the second by Aydan White – holding the Orange scoreless after Syracuse led 10-3 after one.

After their first touchdown, Syracuse would later add a field goal from Andre Szmyt to take a 10-3 lead at the half. 

Dunn connected on a 20-yard field goal in the first quarter for the only score for the Wolfpack. NC State ran 7:14 off the clock on their scoring drive.

Dunn started the third quarter with another kick, capping off a drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock to start the third. 

Syracuse answered with a 13 play drive that covered 78 yards. Capped off with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Garrett Shrader to Oronde Gadsden II to put the Orange ahead 17-6 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter. 

Dunn’s final kick was a 36-yard kick with 6:58 remaining in the game.

Up next: The Wolfpack host Virginia Tech on Oct. 27.