Boston College Football secured a crucial victory over Syracuse on Friday night, defeating the Orange 17-10 in a low-scoring affair. The win keeps the Eagles’ path to a bowl game alive, as they improved to 5-4 (2-4) on the season.
Syracuse QB Out, BC Defense Steps Up
The major storyline heading into the matchup was the unexpected absence of Syracuse QB1 Garret Shrader, who was ruled out during pregame warmups with an undisclosed injury. Carlos Del Rio-Wilson got the start for the Orange, but it was a definite blow to an already-struggling Syracuse offense. The passing game, in particular, took a hit. Syracuse essentially abandoned throwing the ball, attempting only 17 passes for 37 yards and four interceptions.
Boston College’s defense capitalized on the opportunity, forcing six turnovers and holding Syracuse to 10 points. The Eagles’ secondary was especially impressive, picking off Del Rio-Wilson four times and breaking up several passes. CJ Clinkscales, Elijah Jones, Josh DeBerry, and Jalen Williams each had an interception, while DeBerry also forced a fumble that was recovered by Vinny DePalma. The Eagles also sacked Del Rio-Wilson three times, with George Rooks, Shitta Sillah, and Isaiah Graham-Mobley getting to the quarterback.
BC Offense Struggles, but Finds a Way
Boston College’s offense was not much better than Syracuse’s, as the Eagles struggled to move the ball consistently and committed three turnovers of their own. Thomas Castellanos, who started his third game in place of the injured Phil Jurkovec, had a rough night, completing 16 of 31 passes for 141 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also fumbled a handoff to Alex Robichaux that was recovered by Syracuse.
The Eagles’ running game was also largely contained by the Orange’s defense, which frequently got into the backfield and disrupted the plays. Boston College managed only 108 rushing yards on 38 attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. Robichaux led the team with 49 yards on 15 carries, while Castellanos added 33 yards on 12 carries, including a crucial 9-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter that gave the Eagles the lead for good.
The Eagles’ offense did have some bright spots, however. Castellanos threw a short touchdown pass to Owen McGowan, who lined up as a fullback, to cap off an 18-play, 80-yard drive in the second quarter. The drive was highlighted by two fourth-down conversions, one by Castellanos on a sneak and one by Robichaux on a run. The Eagles also converted a fake punt in the fourth quarter, with Grant Carlson finding Trae Barry for a 15-yard gain on fourth and 10. That play kept the drive alive and set up Castellanos’ touchdown run.
BC Survives Late Syracuse Rally
Syracuse did not give up easily, as the Orange mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter. After BC took a 17-10 lead with 2:23 left in the game, Syracuse returned the ensuing kickoff to the BC 40-yard line, giving them a chance to tie the game. However, Del Rio-Wilson threw his fourth interception on the first play of the drive, as Williams jumped in front of the pass and secured the win for the Eagles.
Syracuse had another opportunity to take the lead earlier in the quarter, when Del Rio-Wilson found Umari Hatcher for a 34-yard gain that put the Orange in the red zone. However, Hatcher had the ball stripped out of his hands by DeBerry, who also recovered the fumble and prevented a potential touchdown.
The Orange also missed a field goal at the end of the first half, as Brady Denaburg’s 57-yard attempt was wide right. That left the score at 10-7 in favor of BC, who received the opening kickoff of the second half.
BC Improves to 5-4, Needs One More Win for Bowl Eligibility
With the win, Boston College improved to 5-4 on the season, and 2-4 in the ACC. The Eagles need one more win to become bowl eligible, and they have three games left to do so. Their next game is against Georgia Tech on November 11, followed by Florida State on November 18, and Wake Forest on November 25.
Syracuse, meanwhile, dropped to 4-5 on the season, and 0-5 in the ACC. The Orange have lost five straight games, and need to win two of their remaining three games to reach a bowl game. Their next game is against Pittsburgh on November 11, followed by NC State on November 18, and Louisville on November 25.
