By Steve Herman
The Associated Press

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Kyle Orton passed for 287 yards and a career-high four touchdowns as No. 25 Purdue used a slew of big plays Sunday to beat Syracuse 51-0, the Boilermakers' first shutout in four years.

Orton hit Brian Hare for a 75-yard score in the first quarter, Taylor Stubblefield for TDs of 33 yards in the second quarter and 67 yards in the third period, and Brandon Jones for 32 yards late in the third.

Ben Jones' 34-yard field goal gave Purdue a 37-0 lead going into the final period, when Brandon Kirsch replaced Orton.

The Boilermakers got their final touchdowns on a 44-yard run by Jerome Brooks and a 47-yard pass from Kirsch to freshman Dustin Keller with just over two minutes to go.

For Syracuse, it was the worst shutout loss since a 59-0 beating at Miami in 2001. The last Purdue shutout came in the 2000 season opener against Central Michigan.

Purdue's defense was just as dominant against the Orange, who started a freshman at quarterback for the first time since Todd Norley in 1982. Joe Fields was 8-for-15 passing for 93 yards, and he was sacked twice, intercepted once and constantly pressured.

The Orange didn't drive past their own 36 until late in the second quarter, when Purdue already was ahead 20-0.

Runs of 11 yards by Walter Reyes and 15 yards by Greg Hanoian took Syracuse to the Purdue 25. Reyes then ran 21 yards, which would have been his longest gain, but the play was called back on a holding penalty.

The Orange later reached the Purdue 2, but Fields lost five yards and on fourth down. The Orange then botched the field goal attempt with a bad snap with 15 seconds left.

The Boilermakers had to punt on their first series of the third quarter, but Orton's 67-yard touchdown to Stubblefield came on the first play of their next possession.

Syracuse	0	0	0	0-0
Purdue	14	6	17	14-51

First Quarter

Pur-Void 1 run (Ben Jones kick), 4:01.

Pur-Hare 75 pass from Orton (Ben Jones kick), 1:10.

Second Quarter

Pur-Stubblefield 33 pass from Orton (kick failed), 6:15.

Third Quarter

Pur-Stubblefield 67 pass from Orton (Ben Jones kick), 6:09.

Pur-Brandon Jones 32 pass from Orton (Ben Jones kick), 2:04.

Pur-FG Ben Jones 34, :32.

Fourth Quarter

Pur-Brooks 44 run (Ben Jones kick), 9:39.

Pur-Keller 47 pass from Kirsch (Ben Jones kick), 2:11.

A-56,827.

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Syracuse, Reyes 12-31, Evans 1-20, Hanoian 2-17, Rhodes 5-5, Patterson 1-0, Washington 1-(minus 2), Gregory 1-(minus 8), Fields 9-(minus 23). Purdue, Void 15-83, Brooks 8-67, Kirsch 5-39, Orton 6-32, Brandon Jones 4-10, Bryant 2-7, team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING-Syracuse, Fields 8-15-1-93, Patterson 7-10-0-64, J.Jones 0-1-1-0. Purdue, Orton 16-30-0-287, Kirsch 1-2-0-47.

RECEIVING-Syracuse, Gregory 4-46, J.Jones 3-59, Bembo 2-26, Fontenette 2-16, Reyes 2-4, Rhodes 1-9, Evans 1-(minus 3). Purdue, Stubblefield 5-121, Brandon Jones 2-34, Ingraham 2-15, Davis 2-15, Void 2-15, Hare 1-75, Keller 1-47, Noel 1-9, Bryant 1-3.