Boston College Rushes Past Syracuse Football

By Tim Leonard

CitrusTV Football Reporter

Syracuse (3-6, 0-5 Atlantic Coast) struggled to stop the run Saturday afternoon in a deflating, 58-27, loss to Boston College (5-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast). The Eagles rushed for 496 yards, the most the Orange have ever given up in a single game. 

Junior AJ Dillon led the way for the Eagles with 242 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Backup David Bailey added 172 yards and two touchdowns. 

“Their offense running the ball is really really good…we are what we are. We win as a team and lose a team,” SU head coach Dino Babers said after the game. 

Unlike previous games, Syracuse actually got off to a fast start. Quarterback Tommy DeVito found tight end Aaron Hackett for a nine-yard touchdown on SU’s opening drive to give them a 7-3 lead after an extra point. 

After a 29-yard touchdown from Bailey, the Orange scored 13 points in the final two minutes of the first quarter, thanks to two forced turnovers. Andre Szmyt nailed a 47-yard field goal before DeVito found Trishton Jackson for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Orange a 17-10 advantage heading into the second frame.

DeVito finished the game with three touchdowns, 289 passing yards and no interceptions while Jackson caught eight receptions for 148 yards and two touchdowns. 

The Orange defense then got exposed in the second quarter. Boston College scored four touchdowns of fifty yards or more and won the quarter 34-3. BC led 44-20 at halftime, largely because of over 330 rushing yards. 

“It’s tough going in with a halftime score like that. We just wanted to make sure they came out with the same energy and toughness. I thought they did,” Coach Babers said. 

The lone bright spot of the second half for Syracuse was an 85-yard touchdown from DeVito to Jackson.

The Orange now have an off week before a road trip to Duke on November 16th. Syracuse has to win out to become eligible for a bowl game.

tjleonar@syr.edu | @tim_leonard4