In a game grinded down to a pulp, Syracuse stays undefeated with 24-9 win vs. N.C. State (final score, recap)

Syracuse, N.Y. — The No. 18 Syracuse football team takes on the No. 15 North Carolina State Wolfpack at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the JMA Wireless Dome.

The game will air on ACC Network.

See in-game team and individual stats here.

Note: Refresh this page throughout Syracuse’s game vs. N.C. State to see the latest updates

Final: Syracuse 24, N.C. State 9

Syracuse is 6-0 and bowl eligible after a 24-9, grind-it-out victory against No. 15 North Carolina State.

It’s the Orange’s first home win in a Top-20 matchup since a victory against Florida in 1991.

“It means so much to the community, so much to the student body,” coach Dino Babers said in a postgame interview on the field as the crowd stormed the field.

“The emotion is going through me. Look at this. Look at this. I’m happy for the players.”

Syracuse jumped out to an early 7-0 lead and led 10-3 at halftime. It felt as if it should have been more. A crucial pre-snap penalty set the offense off schedule on a 4th-and-short call, turning a potential scoring drive into a punt.

Garrett Shrader also tossed two first-half interceptions to snuff out a couple drives in the first half, including one in the end zone and another that followed up a spectacular grab by Oronde Gadsden in N.C. State territory.

Then the game was grinded to a halt. There were just five possessions in the second half as long drives chewed up clock.

Shrader deliverd a crucial strike on a 3rd-and-14 for 34 yards to Damien Alford. That set up Sean Tucker’s 25-yard touchdown run to put the game on ice.

Fourth quarter

N.C. State drive starts 2:20 at own 25-yard line

N.C. State is out of timeouts.

Geer starts the drive off with a sack, before Chambers answers with a couple completions, including a dart to Keyon Lesane near midfield.

There’s just 32 seconds left, when Chambers is sacked by Mikel Jones. No better player to put the exclamation point on this defensive gem.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 24, N.C. State 9 with 2:20 left in the fourth quarter

Syracuse drive starts 6:58 at own 35-yard line

Robert Anae turns to the run game here on a critical drive midway through the fourth quarter. Tough third-down run by Sean Tucker to move the chains.

A nice gain by Shrader on the edge will be negated by a holding penalty on Courtney Jackson. That’s the second penalty on the Orange this drive. That’s a big one, as Shrader was just short of the first-down marker.

It’ll be 1st-and-22 with 4:30 remaining, Shrader takes a dead play and turns it back upfield to get a few yards past the line of scrimmage. And it keeps the clock running under 4 minutes.

Shrader then drops one in to Gadsden across the middle. It’ll be a managable 3rd-and-9, but Gadsden comes off the field.

Another inexcusable penalty: an illegal snap by Carlos Vettorello.

Shrader pulls it out: He fires a dart to Alford for a huge third-down conversion. That’s the value of Shrader: extending the play with his legs, drawing the defenders to react, then finding the open receiver.

They are reviewing whether Shrader threw the ball past the line of scimmage. The call on the field stands, even though it looks like Shrader was past the line.

Also on that play: Mang blocking more than 3 yards downfield. That’s a missed call that breaks in SU’s favor.

Tucker caps a controversial series with a 25-yard touchdown run.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 17, N.C. State 9 with 6:68 remaining fourth quarter

N.C. State drive start 1:28 (third quarter) at own 25-yard line

Chambers uses his legs to elude a tackle attempt by Justin Barron and just picks up the first down across midfield.

A key holding call negates a first down by Chambers. The crowd noise forces N.C. State to uses a timeout before a 3rd-and-2 call.

Dartmouth-transfer Isaiah Johnson with a big stick on Chambers. Doeren will go for it and keep it in the hands of Chambers, who converts.

Another long drive here for the Wolfpack, and another timeout for Doeren. N.C. State has just one left with 9:52 remaining in the fourth quarter.

On the other side of the timeout, Chambers continues to grind away and inch closer to pay dirt.

Linebacker Mikel Jones is down getting his right foot checked out by training staff. Leon Lowery is now down on the field for the Orange, which is already without key reserve Anwar Sparrow in this one.

Another pre-snap penalty on N.C. State moves the Wolfpack back another 5 yards.

On 3rd-and-goal, Chambers does everything to keep his feet and extend the play before getting swallowed up by Geer. Good coverage on the back end to keep the ball in Chambers’ hands.

Chris Dunn’s 36-yard field goal is good, but another flag is on the field.

That was an insanely long drive: 18 plays for 56 yards.

That’s a winning effort for the SU defense.

The offense needs one more score to seal it.

Third quarter

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 17, N.C. State 6 with 1:28 remaining third quarter

Syracuse drive starts 7:02 at own 22-yard line

Tucker comes out with a wrap on his left leg but shows no signs of being limited in any meaningful capacity. He takes a dump off by Shrader for 9 yards.

Later in the drive, Shrader goes back to Gadsden, who just gets tripped up in the open field. That shoe-string tackle saved a long touchdown by Gadsden.

Big block by Kalan Ellis seals the hole for Shrader to dash through and pick up another first down in field-goal range.

Shrader tries to throw it away, and Derrek Pitts nearly snags another interception.

On 3rd-and-6 from the N.C. State 24-yard line, Shrader has all day and runs it in. This is all coming back, however, on the holding penalty on Gadsden. That’s a big penalty on a guy who has been the best offensive threat on the field for the Orange.

Shrader converts the short yardage play on 4th-and-short to extend the drive.

Shrader connects with Gadsden for their second touchdown on the day. That’s a big response to N.C. State’s long scoring drive.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 10, N.C. State 6 with 7:07 remaining third quarter

N.C. State drive starts 15:00 at own 25-yard line

Given the close margin, N.C. State able to come out and run its bread-and-butter stuff. Chambers picks up an early first down before firing downfield.

Chambers rarely has put the ball in the air downfield, but on back-to-back deep shots, both fall incomplete.

N.C. State hasn’t seen much success on third down, but Chambers eludes JT Geer and throws on the move to complete a pass to Chris Toudle for a key conversion across midfield.

The Wolfpack is pounding inside and then spreading out the defense with wide screens to Thayer Thomas.

Crowd comes alive, and Grant Gibson’s snap zips by Chambers and into the backfield. It’s a loss of 11 after N.C. State recovers.

On 3rd-and-14, more movement before the snap, and N.C. State is squandering its own scoring chance down here in the red area.

Ball is at the 29-yard line. A draw by Chambers gets it back to the middle of the field at the SU 25-yard line.

Dunn’s 42-yard field goal is dead center.

State’s opening drive of the second half chews up half the third quarter.

Halftime: Syracuse 10, N.C. State 3

Garrett Shrader was intercepted twice in plus-territory, including in the end zone, to keep this one close at the halftime.

The two turnovers, along with a critical pre-snap penalty to kill a potential fourth-down play call, prematurely ended three drives in the first half.

“We’re throwing away opportunities,” Dino Babers said during a brief on-field interview with ACC Network coming off the field at the half.

N.C. State has 87 yards of offense. It clearly is having trouble moving the ball against this SU defense without starting quarterback Devin Leary.

But this one is not over by any stretch.

Shrader is 10-for-17 for 111 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Oronde Gadsden leads all receivers with five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. He’d be over 100 without a first-quarter drop.

Sean Tucker has just eight carries but has picked up 61 yards, including a game-high 38-yard run on the opening possession.

SU’s linebacker corps leading a standout defensive effort: Marlowe Wax and Mikel Jones pacing the defense.

Star cornerback Garrett Williams’ status for the second half is questionable after exiting the game in the second quarter with a lower-leg injury.

Second quarter

Syracuse drive starts 2:18 at own 23-yard line

Massive punt by N.C. State pushes SU back to its own 23-yard line. Syracuse has one timeout and a little more than 2 minutes to go in the half.

Oh man. Gadsden, the star of the first half, comes up with the catch of the night. He high-points the 36-yard completion.

Aydan White intercepts Shrader on the very next play. What a swing in momentum. Robert Anae not happy with where Shrader decided to throw that one.

N.C. State running clock here to get out of the half still trailing by seven. And Syracuse is not stopping the clock either as the clock winds down under 15 seconds.

N.C. State drive starts 3:36 at own 20-yard line

The defense continues to shine here. Syracuse calls timeout with 2:47 remaining in the second quarter.

On 3rd-and-10, Chambers rolls right and takes off. His long stride makes this close, but he is ruled just short of the first-down marker at the 30-yard line.

N.C. State is now 0-for-6 on third down in the half.

Syracuse calls a second timeout with 2:29 remaining.

Syracuse drive starts 7:02 at own 47-yard line

Sean Tucker gets loose for 9 yards off the left side. Garrett Shrader got his hands on Tanner Ingle to give Tucker the time to get by Ingle for a first down.

Shrader pumps and holds off throw it out wide to Pena, who apparently was going to throw a wide receiver pass with other targets releasing downfield.

Shrader moves the sticks with his legs after faking the toss. A couple plays later, Shrader gets into the open field again and picks up another first down inside the 15-yard line.

Syracuse is averaging 7 yards on the ground.

Shrader, will all day to thrown, tries to squeeze one into a tight window, and Tanner Ingle intercepts him in the end zone.

Dino Babers, in practice this week, harped on two things: Win the turnover battle, an avoid pre-snap penalties.

Both areas have led the Orange coming up empty on a couple drives here in the first half.

N.C. State drive starts 9:06 at own 20-yard line

MJ Morris in at quarterback. Leon Lowery follows up an illegal motion penalty with a big sack.

Morris’s pass on 3rd-and-long is off the mark, and the Wolfpack struggling here to find an offensive rhythm in the first half.

N.C. State averaging

A holding call on SU on the punt return pushes the ball back across midfield and in SU territory.

Syracuse drive starts 12:38 at own 40-yard line

Syracuse gets terrific field position after the punt return by Trebor Pena, and Shrader gets to midfield on the quarterback draw.

Shrader, up to 23 yards on the ground, sets up a short third-down call on the outskirts of field-goal range.

Crowd doesn’t like the spot after Tucker’s short run on third down, and that brings up 4th-and-short. The spot will be reviewed. The call stands, and it will be 4th-and-inches.

Babers will go for it: A nice look with SU’s heavy formation will be wasted on the pre-snap movement. The whole left side of the line jumped with Wes Hoeh.

Big penalty. Syracuse will punt. Devaughn Cooper misses a golden opportunity to pin N.C. State at the 1-yard line. Touchback.

N.C. State drive starts 14:12 at own 25-yard line

Chambers is locked up by Mikel Jones, and then Garrett Williams comes in and finished off the play. Williams is down on the field after the play. Williams is hobbling off the field with the help of the training staff and heads for the medical tent.

Meanwhile, N.C. State starting offensive guard Chandler Zavala is walking into the locker room.

Jason Simmons Jr. with a nice pass break-up to force another three-and-out for the Wolfpack.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 10, N.C. State 3 with 14:12 remaining second quarter

On 3rd-and-5 from the 6-yard line, Shrader dumps it off to Tucker, who is shoved out of bounds short of the goal line.

Andre Szmyt hits the short field goal.

Tim Hasselback questioning Dino Babers’ decision to kick the short field goal instead of going for it on fourth down. Reasoned N.C. State would have had to drive 95 yards with Chambers/MJ Morris starting in the teeth of the student section.

First quarter

END OF FIRST QUARTER: Syracuse 7, N.C. State 3

Syracuse drive starts 3:11 at own 25-yard line

Payton Wilson flagged for a facemask for an early first down.

Gadsden then with a bad drop after a nice adjustment on the ball. Hits him right in the hands and stomach. Shrader goes back to him on the next play, and Gadsden makes the catch for a chunk gain and another first down.

Tucker off the right tackle gets another chunk run, then takes a big hit late to the helmet. Payton Wilson came in leading with his shoulder. This could be targeting, but no flag for a late hit, and no review for targeting.

Shrader moves on and goes back to Gadsden for his fourth reception of the quarter. He’s got four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown early, and the Orange is inside the 10-yard line on the keeper by Shrader.

Tucker is back on the field at the end of the quarter.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 7, N.C. State 3 with 3:11 remaining first quarter

N.C. State drive starts 10:25 at own 49-yard line

Freshman Max Von Marburg with a short punt to set up N.C. State near midfield for its second series.

Marlowe Wax covers up the Thayer Thomas on the wide receiver screen to bring up another third down. N.C. State comes up a yard short after the short completion from Chambers to Cedd Seabrough.

Dave Doeren will go for it: Jordan Houston with a burst up the middle to move the sticks for the first time this afternoon. Big push up front by the Wolfpack O-line.

Wax misses a sack, and Chambers scampers for an 8-yard gain to set up another first down just outside the red zone.

Derek McDonald in on the pressure, but a well-timed screen to Houston sets N.C. State up inside the 10-yard line after the 18-yard gain.

On 3rd-and-goal, Steve Linton’s pressure gets Chambers to pull the ball down early and take off. He’s met by Leon Lowery, and SU’s defense comes up with a red-zone stop.

Chris Dunn’s short field goal is good.

Syracuse drive starts 11:13 at own 20-yard line

Tucker is back in the game and gets thrown back for a loss of 6 on the first play of the drive.

Shrader looking for Damien Alford downfield on 3rd-and-16. There was contact by the defender before the ball arrives, but no flag comes out.

Syracuse will punt.

N.C. State drive starts 12:56 at own 25-yard line

Jack Chambers gets the start for the Wolfpack.

A couple early run calls by OC Tim Beck brings up a 3rd-and-3. On the first third-down play of the game, N.C. State gets flagged for presnap movement to make it a 3rd-and-8. That’s a crowd penalty.

Jordan Houston drops the wide pass by Chambers, and the Wolfpack go three-and-out.

SCORE UPDATE: Syracuse 7, N.C. State 0 with 12:56 remaining first quarter

Syracuse drive 15:00 at own 35-yard line

N.C. State won the coin toss and deferred possession until the second half. Syracuse will get the ball first. The opening kickoff goes out of bounds.

Shrader with a couple completions over the middle to Devaughn Cooper and Oronde Gadsden to pick up an early first down and advance the ball to midfield.

Sean Tucker then breaks a tackle after bursting through a big hole off the left side. Tucker is a little gimpy coming off the field after the 38-yard gain. Tucker moved past Floyd Little for sixth on the school’s career rushing list.

Shrader then goes back to Gadsden on the free play and hooks up with his No. 1 target for the 12-yard touchdown.

Pregame

Syracuse, off to its best start to a season in 35 years, is seeking bowl eligibility with a win Saturday afternoon against N.C. State.

The Orange is coming off a bye week, and Dino Babers adjusted the practice schedule as a change-of-pace to guard against the letdown that occurred after last year’s off week.

SU should be well rested but will be thin along the defensive line in the wake of Terry Lockett and Denis Jaquez’s season-ending injuries. Chase Simmons is in a walking boot on the sideline and will not play.

Linebacker Derek McDonald is dressed and participating in pregame warm-ups. McDonald has missed the previous two games because of an undisclosed injury.

The Orange will also be without reserves defensive players Anwar Sparrow and Eric Coley.

The build-up to Saturday’s game could not be higher.

Three hours before the game, SU announced tickets have sold out. The tailgate lots are jammed on a sun-splashed and picturesque fall Saturday in October.

We’re kicking off our live game thread early with sights and sounds from campus:

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